Portsmouth Choral Union: Oratorio de Noël
Portsmouth Choral Union
Southern Pro Musica Strings
Conductor: David Gostick
Step into a world of seasonal wonder with the Portsmouth Choral Union as we celebrate the magic of the festive season through two masterpieces of French choral music.
This performance journeys across the centuries to bring you the profound beauty of the Nativity. We begin in the Baroque era with Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s In nativitatem Domini canticum. Composed around 1690, this exquisite work blends Italian dramatic influences with French refinement to narrate the Nativity story. Featuring angels, shepherds, and exceptional vocalists across three movements, it brings an emotional depth and an intimate, dramatic portrayal to the birth of Christ, beautifully contrasted by rustic pastoral elements and refined instrumental interludes.
The festive warmth continues with the serene, pastoral atmosphere of Camille Saint-Saëns’ Oratorio de Noël. Written in 1858 when the composer was just 23 years old and serving as the organist at La Madeleine in Paris, this charming French-Romantic work combines Latin liturgical texts with vivid Biblical narrative. Ever since its Paris premiere on Christmas Day that same year, it has stood as a masterful nineteenth-century classic, beloved worldwide for its tranquility and lyrical elegance.
Join us for an enchanting night of music that promises to capture the true heart, drama, and joy of Christmas.
Saint-Saëns – Oratorio de Noel. Composed in 1858 at age 23 while Saint-Saëns was organist at La Madeleine in Paris, it was premiered there that same Christmas. It is known for its serene, pastoral atmosphere and French-Romantic style, combining Latin liturgical texts with Biblical narrative. The piece is considered a masterful, charming work of the nineteenth century and is frequently performed during the Christmas season.
Marc-Antoine Charpentier – In nativitatem Domini canticum. Composed around 1690, it blends Italian dramatic influences with French refinement to narrate the Nativity story, featuring angels, shepherds, and vocalists in three sections, often showcasing rustic pastoral elements and refined instrumental interludes. Known for its emotional depth and dramatic, yet intimate portrayal of the Nativity scene.
Tickets: £20 from the PCU website.
