A Babe is Born – Bennett, Mews, Poulenc, Victoria, Whitbourn.

The Bach Choir presents a programme of music appropriate for the season of Advent and Christmas, conducted by Peter de Blois in his first appearance as the choir’s new Musical Director. The programme includes the 2004 Missa Carolae by James Whitbourn, and O Magnum Mysterium in two settings composed four centuries apart, one in the 16th century by Victoria and the other in 1952 by Francis Poulenc. Complementing these are carols arranged by Douglas K. Mews, and also sections from his A Babe is Born and a Christmas cantata, as well as Five Carols by Richard Rodney Bennett. Douglas Mews, the choir’s accompianist, will play two short pieces on the organ. Familiar carols will be interspersed throughout the programme, for which the audience will be invited to sing with the choir.