After many months away, Britten Sinfonia is delighted to announce a welcome return to its residency in Norwich in December 2020.
On Friday 18 December, the orchestra will be joined by soloists from the critically acclaimed choir Polyphony, conducted by Stephen Layton at St Andrew’s Hall for a seasonal choral programme combining celebratory jubilation with the contemplation and mystery of the Christmas story. Morten Lauridsen’s exquisitely layered, luminous meditation for solo voices sets a chant from the Christmas Matins and has been described by its composer as “a quiet song of profound inner joy”. It will contrast vividly with a festive performance of Bach’s great setting of the Magnificat, heard in its original version with Christmas texts. Britten Sinfonia will also perform Corelli’s joyous Christmas Concerto.
To allow for socially distanced audiences to hear the concert, it will be performed twice: at 5.30pm and at 8pm. Measures to keep audiences, staff and musicians safe will include enhanced cleaning, staggered arrival times and mask wearing (see below for full details and read here about all the measures we have taken to keep our live audiences safe in our socially distanced performances).
The concert will also be performed at Saffron Hall, where Britten Sinfonia is Resident Orchestra, on Saturday 19 December (4.30pm and 7pm). Click here for further information and tickets.
Meurig Bowen, Chief Executive & Artistic Director of Britten Sinfonia said: “We are really delighted to be returning to Norwich after far too long, and in particular to be bringing live music back to St Andrew’s Hall audiences for the first time since March. With Bach’s exuberant Magnificat at its heart, this special Christmas programme – though socially distanced for both performers and audience – will be a joyous and, after so long, a joyously social occasion for all. We have worked hard with the wonderful team at The Halls to make sure our audiences feel safe and secure, and we cannot wait to welcome our Norwich friends back into these performances.”
Booking your tickets
To book tickets for the concerts at St Andrew’s Hall on Friday 18 December, click here.
Priority booking for Supporters of Britten Sinfonia will open for both venues on Wednesday 2 December, 12 noon. You can join us as a Friend today or even buy a gift membership for a loved one to get access to priority booking.
Tickets for both venues will go on general sale on Friday 4 December, 12 noon.
St Andrew’s Hall – further information
Britten Sinfonia will be the first orchestra to perform in St Andrew’s Hall since the pandemic began, and keeping audiences, staff and musicians safe is our top priority. There will be a reduced capacity within the hall and seating will be grouped in pairs, threes and fours and will be socially distanced according to latest government guidelines. Therefore, ticket groups must be from within the same household or bubble. Enhanced cleaning will be in operation at the venue and will include fogging machines and thorough cleaning of all touch points before and after the concerts. Audience arrival times will be staggered to allow for comfortable distancing upon entry, and will be advised to remain in their seats for the duration of the performance. In line with other indoor public spaces, Britten Sinfonia and St Andrew’s Hall will request that all audience members wear a mask inside the concert hall at all times unless exempt.
