Stephen Bell               conductor
Lizzie Ryder                soprano
Emily Hodkinson        mezzo-soprano

Programme includes: Rimsky Korsakov Christmas Eve Polonaise; Dvořák Song to the Moon from Rusalka; Handel  Qual Leon from Arianna in Creta; Bissill Christmas Carnival; Delibes Flower Duet from Lakmé; Massenet Enfin, je suis ici from Cinderella; Strauss Champagne Polka;

Tchaikovsky Nutcracker – Final Waltz and Apotheosis; Silvestri The Polar Express; Sherwin A Nightingale sang in Berkeley Square; Lloyd Webber, Wishing you were here from Phantom of the Opera; Arr. Harvey Fum, Fum, Fum; Humperdinck Evening Prayer from Hansel and Gretel; Offenbach Excerpts from Gaîté Parisiènne; Tormé The Christmas Song; Berlin White Christmas.

With more sparkle than a magnum of Champagne, the Hallé Christmas Concert is the essential centrepiece for your seasonal celebrations. And this time there’s double the joy with debuts from two outstanding young singers from Nottinghamshire. Lyrical soprano Lizzie Ryder and dramatic mezzo Emily Hodkinson join forces to bring us a feast of opera, sacred arias and musical theatre, not forgetting some timeless Christmas Classics. Amongst the highlights are Delibes’ sublime Flower Duet (for many years synonymous with British Airways), Humperdinck’s touching Evening Prayer and Dvořák’s lovely mermaid’s aria from Rusalka. There are, of course, plenty of orchestral thrills, too, with high-kicking can-cans from Offenbach, cinematic spectacle aboard Alan Silvestri’s Polar Express and cork-popping revelry from Johan Strauss II. Cheers!