Christmas Concert 6th December 2025 Review

A festive evening with French flair was had at The Drill Hall in Ware on Saturday, 6th December 2025 at 7.30pm. Ware Choral Society along with the Orpheus Sinfonia with Rosie Howarth directing and Barbara Manning accompanying on the organ presented a programme of popular carols alongside the lesser-known Messe de Minuit pour Noel by Marc-Antoine Charpentier.

The Messe de Minuit does not, initially, elicit the idea of Christmas to a non-French audience since its themes are based on French carols, but pairing Charpentier’s orchestral settings of the carols in between movements provided context. Ms Howarth expertly brought out a delightful dance-like lilt from the orchestra with the fluttering and piquant flutes exhibiting the joy of the first mass of Christmas. The choir mirrored the orchestra, even if some off-kilter balance between voices betrayed the challenges in the piece. Nevertheless, Howarth invoked incredible tranquillity when imploring for peace on earth in the ‘Gloria’ or a reverence at the incarnation, yet more vibrancy when uttering praise. The nature of this work is that each movement is broken into sections based on the text of the mass, and in the ‘Credo’, particularly, Howarth’s smooth transitions never allowed the musical intensity to sag.

After jolly mince pies and mulled wine, lustily sung congregational carols interspersed the choir performing French-themed carols. Ben Parry’s arrangement of He is Born invoked drummers and pipers with soaring flutes, a haunting Away in a Manger was sung to a less familiar tune and two French carols arranged by John Rutter celebrated his 80th birthday. Hector Berlioz’s The Shepherd’s Farewell was a tender and pleading highlight. An encore of Ding Dong, Merrily on High brought the evening to an uplifting close.

Stephen Crookes, MMus, ARCO – Director of Music, St Mary the Virgin, Ware

Courtesy of Hertfordshire Mercury