A Festive Tale: the Story of Christmas Music

Schedule

Fri Dec 04 2026 at 10:45 am to 01:00 pm

UTC+00:00
Location

Covent Garden | London, EN

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Join us for this musical morning to kick start your Christmas Season.
About this Event

Lecture One:

A Festive Tale: the Story of Christmas Music

Christmas would not be Christmas without music. And the story of what we perform, listen to and share at that most festive of seasons is both fascinating and transformative. Having had its roots in Rome during the 4th Century with chants like Veni redemptor gentium, Christmas music has since gone on to become one of mankind's most enduring cultural and religious phenomena. Whether it is heard as part of the liturgy, or at the cinema, Christmas music never fails to trigger a sense of wonderment.

Using carefully chosen sound recordings and film clips, this lecture will trace the history and impact of Christmas music from its Roman roots to the present day.

Lecture Two:

Messiah: an Audio-Visual Exploration of Handel's Choral Masterpiece

Composed in 1741, but first performed in Dublin's Great Music Hall the following year, 'Messiah' is one of Western music's greatest artistic achievements and a work that has captured the imagination of audiences around the globe. Although originally performed at Easter , the oratorio has also become a staple at Christmas and is regularly performed by some of the world's greatest conductors, singers, choirs and orchestras during that part of the liturgical calendar. But, over the years , the piece has been subject to a variety of cuts , changes and modifications that have reflected shifting trends in both performance style and audience expectations


Event Photos

Georg Friedrich Handel


Our Lecturer- Professor Raymond Holden

Born in Australia, Professor Raymond Holden AM studied at Sydney , Cologne and London and is a critically acclaimed and multi-award winning writer, conductor, broadcaster and lecturer.

He has performed with the Philharmonic Orchestra, the Danish Radio Symphoney Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Emilia Romagna and the New Symphony Orchestra of London. His work is widely published and has taken part in television and radio programmes across the world. He has spoken at many of the world's leading music and literary fetsivals, unniversities , conservatoires and research institutes.

Professor Holden was appointesd a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2019 Quen's Birthday Honours List and is currently Emeritus Prfessor of Music at the Royal Acadenmy of Music, London.


Agenda

🕑: 10:45 AM - 01:00 PM
A Festive Tale: the Story of Christmas Music
Host: Prof. Ronald Holden
🕑: 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Lecture 1 : A Festive tale: the Story of Christmas Music
🕑: 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Coffee Break
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Lect. 2: Messiah: an Audio-Visual Exploration of Handel's Choral Masterpiece
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Where is it happening?

Covent Garden, The Club for Acts & Actors, London, United Kingdom

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

GBP 30.00

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