Written in 1942 during Britten’s sea voyage from the United States to England and premiered the following year.
This celebrated cycle of twelve short movements for voices and harp—written in 1942 during Britten’s sea voyage from the United States to England and first performed the following year—combines medieval English and Latin texts with music of remarkable clarity, refinement, and brilliance.
By turns mystical, playful, and radiant, *A Ceremony of Carols* has become one of the most beloved choral works of the Christmas season. Britten’s masterpiece is complemented by sacred works from John Tavener and Arvo Pärt—composers whose music explores the profound connection between spirituality, silence, and sound.
Their meditative compositions bring a sense of stillness and transcendence to the program, creating a captivating dialogue between diverse musical traditions and generations. Additional seasonal works round out this atmospheric musical journey, inviting the audience to experience the wonder, serenity, and joy of the holidays through some of the most radiant and moving sacred music of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
