The RTÉ Philharmonic Choir and the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra under Matthew Halls will be joined by soloists, tenor Mark Padmore, soprano Julia Doyle, alto Paula Murrihy and bass Peter Harvey on Friday and Saturday, January 6th and 7th, in the neo-gothic splendour of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin.
Eileen Battersby writing in The Irish Times: This most joyful work, written by Bach in 1734, really does celebrate the birth of Christ and resounds with good will and humanity.
Whereas Handel’s wonderful Messiah, familiar, beloved and omnipresent, is dual purpose, as suited to Easter as it is to Christmas, and offers a whirlwind tour of Christ’s life: from birth to death to resurrection, the Christmas Oratorio is about the nativity of the sacred child, the bringer of hope.
Tickets: €25 per concert, €45 for both. Book on 01-4170000 or online at nch.ie
This is an excellent article with the background of the work and a portrait of Mark Padmore
See:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/magazine/2011/1231/1224309575908.html