‘O HOLY NIGHT’

VOX Cape Town was delighted to team up with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and three other choirs (the Cape Town Opera Chorus and the Cape Town Opera Children’s Chorus, both under the leadership of Antoinette Huyssen, and the St George’s Cathedral Choir, directed by Grant Bräsler) for three concerts celebrating some of the most-loved Christmas music. Maestro Brandon Phillips conducted all three performances.

The trio of performances began with a free lunch-hour concert in the packed Chandelier Foyer at Artscape. Marlene le Roux, CEO of Artscape, welcomed all the guests. Then the two sold-out evening performances took place in the majestic acoustic and grandeur of the iconic St George’s Cathedral and featured Grant Bräsler on St George’s Cathedral’s famous Hill Organ. A wonderful programme of favourite hymns, such as Hark! The Herald-Angels Sing and Once In Royal David’s City, excerpts from Handel’s Messiah and various other Christmas items were presented.

A particularly special aspect of these performances was the inclusion of local composers and arrangers, many of whom VOX has worked with closely. For example, there was Grant McLachlan’s popular Come, Colours Rise (with text by Frank Barry, and both of Grant and Frank were at one of the performances), a rousing arrangement of Ring The Bells by Péter Louis van Dijk, and finally two arrangements of Silent Night and Away In A Manger by Barry Smith, who gave so much of his life to music in St George’s Cathedral and the Mother City. It was fitting that the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, was also present for the performance on the Thursday evening.

Tuesday 10 December 2024 at 1 PM
Chandelier Foyer, Artscape (free lunch-hour concert)

Wednesday 11 December and Thursday 12 December 2024 at 6 PM
St George’s Cathedral, Wale Street