Ottawa Chamberfest is delighted to welcome you to Gala Noël, a holiday kick-off concert inspired by PBS’s A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert (1991). That iconic broadcast featured world-renowned talents such as Kathleen Battle and Wynton Marsalis, showcasing holiday repertoire that spanned eras and blended genres. From opera to jazz to beloved choral favourites, the Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert perfectly captured the excitement and wonder of the season.
Tonight, Chamberfest offers a very merry, very Canadian—and of course very Chamberfest—take on that sensational concept, featuring artists from coast to coast to coast performing operatic, symphonic, choral, jazz, and popular repertoire. This evening promises to be joyful and unabashed, revelling in the warmth of the holidays.
We begin with Sibelius’s Andante Festivo, performed by our wonderful string section and featuring laureates of the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the Instrument Bank is represented tonight by 2023 laureates Gregory Lewis, Julia Mirzoev, Astrid Nakamura, Kumiko Sakamoto, Yu Kai Sun, Chris Whitley, Leana Rutt, and Andrea Stewart. With its hymn-like Nordic harmonies, Andante Festivo sets a celebratory tone—you can almost imagine a crisp evening walk on a snowy path, starlight catching on fresh snow.
Next, Caelis Academy Ensemble, under the direction of Matthew Larkin and joined by full orchestra, presents the evening’s first carol: the Sussex Carol. Long a staple of Anglican “Nine Lessons and Carols” services, this beloved melody was collected by Cecil Sharp and Ralph Vaughan Williams in Sussex—hence its name—and continues to hold a special place in the English choral tradition.
Continuing the theme of rejoicing, soprano Meghan Lindsay takes the stage for the Alleluia from Mozart’s Exsultate, jubilate. Praised by the Toronto Star as “equal to the best Mozart interpreters anywhere in the world,” Lindsay is in her element here. This piece also appeared on the 1991 Carnegie Hall programme, when it was performed by Kathleen Battle. Tonight, Lindsay brings her elegant, sparkling soprano to this bubbly, effervescent work.
We then turn to one of the most iconic holiday masterworks: Handel’s Messiah. No season feels complete without it. This evening, Meghan Lindsay and mezzo-soprano Alexandra Hetherington join forces for the pastoral duet He shall feed His flock. Hetherington brings her “wonderfully rich, warm sound” (Opera Canada) to Lindsay’s radiant soprano, creating a beautifully balanced blend of style and poise. With its lilting lines and warm F-major harmonies, the duet offers a moment of rest and comfort, the two voices intertwining in serene harmony.
Remaining in this pastoral sound world, Lindsay and Hetherington are joined by Caelis Academy Ensemble, Matthew Larkin, and full orchestra—including winds—for Pietro Yon’s Gesu Bambino. Based on the melody of Adeste Fideles (“O Come All Ye Faithful”), this charming Italian carol quickly became a holiday favourite worldwide. Hearing two exceptional soloists, a choir, and an orchestra together is always special, and this number highlights the collaborative spirit at the heart of Chamberfest.
Next comes the exquisite Abendsegen duet from Humperdinck’s Hansel und Gretel, performed again by Lindsay and Hetherington with chamber orchestra. In this ethereal lullaby, the singers count the 14 angels who watch over them as they sleep—a fitting close to this portion of the programme, which has centred on angels, good news, and shepherds in their fields.
The string section concludes the first half with Grieg’s Holberg Suite. Sometimes subtitled “Suite in the Old Style,” it draws on 18th-century dance forms like the Gavotte and Rigaudon. Fiery, tender, and delightfully dance-infused, the suite shifts from soft and mellow to rhythmic and sparkling, offering a wealth of delicious musical moments.
The second half opens with the exhilarating Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 by J.S. Bach, once again showcasing our dynamite strings. Though not originally tied to the holidays, the Brandenburgs have found a welcome place in seasonal programming—perhaps fittingly, since Bach composed them as a gift for the Margrave of Brandenburg. The third concerto famously lacks a slow movement—just two chords and a cadence—leaving performers to improvise or interpolate. You’ll have to wait and see what our Chamberfest artists choose tonight!
We then move into a distinctly Canadian moment with Kelly-Marie Murphy’s Huron Carol Interlude, a short string work based on Canada’s oldest Christmas song. Originating around 1641 with lyrics in the Wendat (Huron) language, the Huron Carol holds a cherished place in our country’s holiday tradition.
This sets the stage beautifully for Wyandot’s Realm, a striking choral piece by Winnipeg-based composer Andrew Balfour, performed by Caelis Academy Ensemble and Matthew Larkin. Drawing on the Huron Carol melody and Indigenous chant, Balfour reflects on the history of the Wendat (Wyandot) people, who faced near devastation during the 17th century. The familiar carol melody appears throughout, interwoven with flashes of intensity—a powerful Indigenous perspective on this carol and the broader tradition.
Returning to our Carnegie Hall inspiration, Alexandra Hetherington performs Rodgers and Hammerstein’s My Favourite Things, accompanied by strings in an L. Connley arrangement. Though not originally a holiday song, it has become a seasonal favourite—perhaps because of its spirit of joy and sharing.
Following this delightful number, we move into the realm of jazzy Christmas classics as our jazz combo—John Geggie, Steve Boudreau, and Jim Doxas—steps into the spotlight with a medley from A Charlie Brown Christmas. In homage to Wynton Marsalis’s 1991 appearance, the trio performs selections from Vince Guaraldi’s iconic soundtrack. A fun Canadian connection: the drummer on the original Charlie Brown Christmas album, the late Jerry Granelli, later made his home in Halifax. This set promises warmth, nostalgia, and a touch of Canadian pride.
For lovers of choral polyphony, Sweelinck’s Hodie Christus natus est follows, performed with bell-like clarity by Caelis Academy Ensemble. Composed in the early 1600s, it is the oldest work on tonight’s programme and brims with joyful interlocking lines celebrating the birth of Christ.
Caelis remains onstage and joins our full orchestra for John Rutter’s sprightly arrangement of the Sans Day Carol, a traditional Cornish hymn named for the village of St. Day. With its refrain “Now the holly bears a berry,” it sparkles with seasonal charm.
We then return to a moment of stillness as Lindsay and Hetherington offer Reger’s Mariä Wiegenlied, a serene lullaby derived from the traditional German carol “Joseph, lieber Joseph mein.” Its gentle pastoral harmonies and soaring vocal line create a deeply soothing musical embrace.
Our epic holiday journey concludes with two nods to the 20th-century Christmas song tradition. First, John Geggie, Steve Boudreau, and Jim Doxas return with Meghan Lindsay and Alex Hetherington for a medley of beloved classics, including The Christmas Song and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas—a stylish, jazz-infused finale. Then, our dear strings close the evening with a reprise of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, arranged by our Chamberfriends, the Danish String Quartet. Their folk-inspired rhythms and subtle twang bring warmth and sincerity to this timeless tune.
As Gala Noël comes to a close, we reflect on the beautiful concert we’ve shared and the remarkable musical year we’ve enjoyed together. Tonight, our holiday travels spanned from 17th-century Netherlands to the great concert halls of America, ending here at home in Canada. Throughout the year, we’ve journeyed even farther, hearing joyful, passionate, and comforting music from across continents and cultures.
Thank you for celebrating with us this evening, and for travelling with us through this glorious musical world. From all of us at Chamberfest, we wish you a happy holiday season and a very Happy New Year!
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