The best Christmas concerts in the UK 2022

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There’s a busy schedule of Christmas concerts across the UK this year. After a few quieter years due to the COVD pandemic, there is a busy schedule of concerts, sing-along services and family music events across the country. Reach this journal and get reserved dates!

The best Christmas concerts near me in the UK

Here’s our handpicked selection of some of the best Christmas gigs across the country this Christmas.

Best Christmas concerts: Scotland

RSNO Christmas Concert featuring The Snowman

Aberdeen Music Hall, December 15 / Caird Hall, Dundee, December 16 / Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, December 17 / Usher Hall, Edinburgh, December 18

Join the RSNO in December for a special feast of Christmas cheer! This family concert is packed with your favorite carols and your favorite festive melodies. Also, don’t miss the magic movie The Snowman broadcast on the big screen, accompanied by the Orchestra and narrated by Aled Jones. It’s the perfect start to your Christmas.

Festive favorite ‘The Snowman’ hits the big screen, complete with live orchestral accompaniment, in Scotland this Christmas. Photo: BBC

SCO Chorus Christmas Concert: The Heart of the Night

Greyfriar’s Kirk, Edinburgh, 20-21 December

A much-loved fixture on the Scottish music calendar, the seasonal SCO Chorus concert inaugurates Yuletide with a collection of warm music under the inspiring direction of the conductor Gregory Batsler.

The fluid lyricism of by Arnold Bax rich and respectful mater ora filium contrasts with the deeply spiritual purity of by Arvo Pärt serene Da Pacem Domine and Anna Clyne’s Contemplative The heart of the nightwritten especially for the SCO Chorus.

The program also includes Rutter’s dazzling choral epic Hymn to the Creator of Light and Poston’s timeless Jesus Christ the apple tree. here are the words of jesus christ the apple tree.

Glasgow City Choir: Christmas Cracker

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, December 18

The City of Glasgow Chorus returns with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera for their annual festive celebration’

An annual choral and orchestral festive extravaganza featuring O Holy Night, The Hark the Herald Angels, It’s Starting to Look a Lot Like Christmas, O Come all ye Faithful, and many more.

Best Christmas concerts: Wales

Family Christmas Concert (English and Welsh versions)

Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff, December 18

The BBC National Orchestra of Wales presents a merry Christmas cookie filled with festive family favourites. 2 p.m. concert in English or 4 p.m. concert in Welsh.

The Sixteen at Christmas

St David’s Hall, Cardiff, 4th December

The wonderful choir The Sixteen presents its 2022 Christmas programme, a fine collection of music from the 16th century to the present day. Expect a nice contrast between much-loved modern classics, including Gabriel Jackson’s The baby Jesus and Cecilia McDowall’s brightest star, and the beautiful Renaissance sounds of Palestrina Vide Stellam Magi and Sheppard Regès Tharsis.

For fans of the more traditional, the program has plenty to offer, including favorites three hours past and Angels, from realms of glory.

Best Christmas concerts: Northern Ireland

Ulster Orchestra: The Magic of Christmas

Waterfront Hall, Belfast, 21 December

Conductor Alfonso Casado Trigo leads the orchestra and the Belfast Philharmonic Choir in an evening of fun for the whole family. Enjoy an enchanting program of Christmas and film classics, including White Christmas, oh holy night, all I want for Christmas and more.

Best Christmas concerts: England (North)

York Early Music Christmas Festival

York, December 8-16

The York Early Music Christmas Festival was established in 1997 to introduce the public to the extraordinary wealth of music associated with Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, from medieval to baroque, intertwined with sagas, stories and northern tales.

The 2022 Festival opens with La Palatine, rising stars of the EEEmerging+ program funded by Creative Europe. Highlights include violinist Bojan Cicic presenting two complementary concerts celebrating the music of JS Bach and guest ensembles will include Spiritato! with the Marian Consort, Ensemble Molière, Orlando Consort, York Waits, Yorkshire Baroque Soloists and Solomon’s Knot.

The Sixteen at Christmas

The Wise, Gateshead, December 9

See Wales above.

Halle Carol Concert

Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, December 17

Stephen Bell directs and presents the traditional annual Hallé Christmas party. There will be Christmas carols for choir and public, as well as a stock of the most beautiful and magical music performed by the Hallé in the mood of the seasons.

Popular songs to perform include ‘Once in the city of Royal David‘, ‘silent night‘, ‘Oh holy night‘, ‘holly and ivy‘, ‘I saw three shipsandjoy to the world‘. In addition, the Hallé children’s choir sings There is a Santa Claus’ from the movie Elf.

Best Christmas concerts: England (Midlands)

Swan Orchestra: Midwinter

Playhouse, Stratford-upon-Avon, December 6 / Drapers’ Hall, Coventry, December 9

Join Orchestra of the Swan for a breathtaking tribute to winter and the festive season with music and words from all centuries – old carols, folk fiddle, traditional Christmas songs and classic favourites.

More like this

A Choral CBSO Christmas with Alan Titchmarsh

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, December 15 & 16Join the entire CBSO family, including mass choirs and full orchestra, alongside bandleader Simon Halsey and TV favorite Alan Titchmarsh, for an evening full of Christmas cheer. Some favorite hymns and chants, including “Far in a Manger”, “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, “While the Shepherds Watched”and “Listen to the Herald” are on the program.

Ex Cathedra: Christmas music by candlelight

St Chad’s Shrewsbury, 2 December / St James the Greater, Leicester, 3 December / Hereford Cathedral, 7 December / Coventry Cathedral, 13 December / St Oaul’s Church, Birmingham, 19-23 December

Jeffrey Skidmore’s Choir presents another delightfully performed streak of seasonal favorites, little-known gems and inspiring new music – with readings to make you smile and think. All performed by candlelight, creating a magical atmosphere at this most wonderful time of the year.

The program includes Vaughan Williams’ ‘It’s the truth’, the carol “O little town of Bethlehem” and by William Byrd ‘Lullaby, my sweet little baby’.

Best Christmas concerts: England (South)

Bristol Bach Choir

St George’s Bristol, December 10

The Bristol Bach Choir brings you a joyful celebration of Christmas through gloriously uplifting music and humorous, profound readings; a mix of traditional and contemporary, guaranteed to fill you with festive joy. Come and be inspired by the charm, wonder and magic of Christmas.

Handel’s Messiah

St George’s Bristol, December 21

The Royal Holloway Choir return to St George’s Bristol in another collaboration with the Bristol Ensemble Orchestra as they bring Handel’s masterpiece to life, Messiah.

Talented young soloists from the choir will perform arias from the work from positions spread across the hall, bringing freshness and vitality to this astonishing and fascinating work.

Sung Eucharist of Christmas

Westminster Abbey, December 25

Celebrate Christmas Day at Westminster Abbey. This Eucharist includes the singing of Christmas carols, music from the abbey choir, a sermon and Holy Communion, lasting approximately 90 minutes.

The UK's best Christmas concerts 2022

The best Christmas concerts 2022 in the UK: Westminster Abbey Choir

Singing for Syrians Carol Concert

St Margaret’s Church, Westminster, December 1

Enjoy an evening of Christmas carols at St Margaret’s Church. With readings and performances by Jeremy Irons, Julie Christie, Sinead Cusack and others. All funds raised go directly to health and education programs that support the livelihoods of Syrian doctors and teachers as well as vital services to their local communities.

Songs at the Royal Albert Hall

Royal Albert Hall, 17-24 December

Carol’s concerts at the Royal Albert Hall have become a festive favorite over the years and 2022 is no exception.

Performers in this year’s concert include the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Choral Society, the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain and the British Imperial Military Band.

Christmas with the Cathedral Choir

Exeter Cathedral, 9/11/12 December

Exeter’s famous Cathedral Choir returns for the most popular Christmas carol concerts of the year. Adults and choristers will be conducted by Timothy Noon (Director of Music) and accompanied on the mighty Exeter Cathedral organ.

The Sixteen at Christmas

Anvil, Basingstoke, November 29 / St Martin in the Fields, December 6 / St John the Evangelist, December 16 / Cadogan Hall, London, December 21

See Wales above.

Glyndebourne Christmas Concert 2022

Lewes, December 10-11

The Christmas concert will showcase the talents of the Glyndebourne Chorus and Tour Orchestra. The concert begins with highlights from the opera – catchy tunes that will stay in your head long after the curtain has gone down. Then come the Christmas classics and Christmas carols for everyone.

As well as the Family Christmas Concert, you can also enjoy a host of festive offerings in Glyndebourne when you visit.

St John’s Smith Square Christmas Festival

St John’s Smith Square, London, 10-23 December

The 37th episode of the ever-popular St John’s Christmas Festival includes visits from London Choral Sinfonia, The Tallis Scholars, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The Gesualdo Six, Siglo de Oro and many more. A hugely tempting array of festive fare, across a wide range of eras, styles and performance approaches.

Monteverdi Choir: Christmas Oratorio “Weihnachtsoratorium” by Bach

St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, December 13 (Parts 1-3) / December 15 (Parts 4-6)

John Eliot Gardiner’s Monteverdi Forces present Bach’s great festive oratorio in two parts. The period instruments of the English Baroque Soloists are also present.

Nutcracker & me

Snape Maltings, December 15-16

A pianist, a ballerina and a magical digital world on screen. This is Tchaikovsky’s ballet Nutcracker for the 21st century, using stunning, cutting-edge animations and effects to tell this seasonal classic like it’s never been told before, creating a fantasy world so real you might even start to believe in fairies plum!

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