NOËL! NOËL! the Xmas season begins each year as the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra (ABO) and Brandenburg Choir kick start the festive music period by fulfilling ideas of joyful and triumphant celebration, with their stunning annual sacred and secular concert.
Each year people from all walks of life and faiths gather for this very special night, starting at Melbourne on December 9 in the Elizabeth Murdoch Recital Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre before heading to the cities of Sydney, Parramatta and Wollongong, and performing in the churches of Sydney suburbs Paddington, Mosman and Newtown ending December 20.
The program always provides for a beautiful blend of inspiring music, a dose of fun and as always, a WOW factor.
This year there is a very special guest star to sing with the fabulous Brandenburg Choir. Tenor Joel Parnis made a massive impression on artistic director Paul Dyer when he saw him on stage in the production of My Fair Lady directed by Dame Julie Andrews.
“…I was captivated by his commanding stage presence, incredibly beautiful tone and ability to draw the audience in with each word. I knew by interval I needed to sign him up for Noël! Noël!” Paul said.
Joel Parnis graduated just seven years ago from the University of Ballarat here in Victoria and since then has rarely been off stage, performing in national Australian and international tours of Les Miserables, Atlantis in Concert, Patient 12, Flowerchildren: The Mamas and Papas Story, Godspell, Tune in Tomorrow, Titanic in Concert, The Pirates of Penzance, Chess – The Musical and The Producers.
Musicians of Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, photo by Liz Ham
ABO musicians playing on period instruments will present mesmerizing music by the likes of Italian Composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594), English composer Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625), French Romantic Composer, organist and teacher Gabriel Urbain Fauré (1845-1924), as well as John Rutter (1945-).
Always popular are carols like Deck the Halls and Hark the Herald Angels Sing and Christmas songs like O Holy Night, Silent Night and Once in Royal David’s City.
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra artistic director Paul Dyer AO, photo by Liz Ham
Joel will sing a new arrangement of Bring Him Home from Les Miserablés. Then there will be a gorgeous and little-known choral work composed by Alexandre Desplat for Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 – My Love is Always Here.
“The song was only ever released as a bonus track on a limited-edition collector’s box set. It’s a rarity and this will be an absolute treat for all the Harry Potter fans,” says Paul.
A new Australian Brandenburg Orchestra irreverent take on The Twelve Days of Christmas will be sure to be entertaining and as always, the concert will end with a rousing crowd pleaser O Come, All Ye Faithful, now integral to the Noël! Noël! tradition.
Carolyn McDowall, The Culture Concept Circle, 2017
Members Brandenburg Choir, photo by Liz Ham
NOËL! NOËL!
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
Australian Brandenburg Choir
BUY TICKETS
CITY CONCERTS
MELBOURNE
Melbourne Recital Centre
Sat 9 Dec at 5PM & 7:30PM
SYDNEY
City Recital Hall
Wed 13 Dec at 5PM & 7PM
Sat 16 Dec at 5PM & 7PM
WOLLONGONG
St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral
Thurs 14 Dec at 7PM
SYDNEY CHURCHES
Paddington
St Francis of Assisi Church
Mon 11 Dec at 7PM
Tues 12 Dec at 7PM
Parramatta
St Patrick’s Cathedral
Mon 18 Dec at 7:30PM
Mosman
St Clement’s Anglican Church
Tues 19 Dec at 7PM
Newtown
St Stephen’s Anglican Church
Wed 20 Dec at 7PM
