Christmas in York: York Early Music Christmas Festival returns this month

York Early Music Christmas Festival will return this month with over a week of festival music from 3 to 11 December. The festival will take place in the mediaeval St Margaret’s Church and will include music celebrating Advent and the festive season. Run by the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM), many of the concerts are staged by candlelight, with mulled wine available for audience members.

NCEM’s director, Dr Delma Tomlin MBE, said: ‘Christmas in most circles is a time for celebrations, a time of fanfare, ceremony and feasting.  At the heart of the celebrations is a very human story which is often so beautifully illustrated through music, and we invite you to find peace, serenity alongside mince pies and mulled wine at this busy time.’

The festival will open with the innovative and engaging Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Their concert, A Baroque Christmas, includes music by Corelli, Handel, JS Bach and Vivaldi. Following this, The Gesualdo Six will return after their popularity during last year’s festival. The Six will present their concert, In Winters House, a programme featuring music across the ages, from the Tudor Church to the 21^st century.

This year’s programme will also include award-winning young German artists Prisma. Supported by the NCEM’s Creative Europe funded programme EEEmerging +, Prisma present their concert, A Baroque Christmas. Incorporating themes from further afield, Siglo de Oro will delight festival audiences with Christmas in Puebla, a concert evoking the spirit of the warm breezes of South America, blending dance with traditional carols. 

For tickets and information, visit the NCEM York Early Music Christmas Festival website or call the festival box office at: 01904 658 338

A Christmas Box Set of films of festival highlights will also be available on demand from 17 December until 6 January. The perfect Christmas gift for music lovers, the set will be available to watch online throughout the Christmas season.

Dr Tomlin MBE added: ‘We’re delighted to be able to bring you this fabulous array of concerts online, with this wonderful ‘Christmas Box Set’, filmed at our home of St Margaret’s Church during this year York Early Music Christmas Festival.  We are continuing to share our music online, so those of you who aren’t able to join us in York will be able to enjoy this fabulous feast of music in the comfort of your own homes – and of course it’s the perfect gift to share with family and friends.’

The York Christmas Box Set, priced £40.00, is now on sale with concert films to be released at 10.00am on 17 December and available to watch on demand until 14 January. In addition to Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The Gesualdo Six, Prisma and Siglo De Oro, the box set will include concerts from Pocket Sinfonia, James Gilchrist & Matthew Wadsworth and Battaglia, featuring Bojan Čičić, Gawain Glenton and Silas Wollston.