Above: ABO Artistic Director Paul Dyer leads the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra in ‘By Night’ an atmospheric work bt Sophie Hutchings in an arrangement by Geoff Lawson. The concert contained excellent lighting design as backdrop by Sydney’s Trent Suidgeest. Photo Credit: Keith Saunders. Featured image: Paul Dyer with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Choir on the Noël! Noël! stage.

For some twenty years the signature Noël! Noël! elevated Christmas entertainments with multiple
performances in Sydney and Melbourne have capped off the year for Paul Dyer’s Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Australian Brandenburg Choir.

In this challenging year, more than ever, the blend of vocal, instrumental music, early and new as well as in original format or arrangement lifted our spirits.

There were traditional carols performed in excellent traditional choral formats. Some carols shone with a fresh stellar twist (such as an instrumental arrangement by Palmer of O Little Town of Bethlehem) a talented swagger (as in a cool Little Drummer Boy complete with Christina Leonard’s bari sax) or breathtaking vocal virtuosity (for the svelte rocketing of the Ding Dong Merrily on High from small vocal ensemble.

Messiah excerpts including an exciting, energetic Hallelujah! Chorus modern music on offer truly crowned the traditional Western Music part of this 16-item very strong pastiche.

Some excellent renditions of traditional Christmas music and choral favourites plus some versions with considerable swagger and the chance for the choir to showcase their performance personalities, humour and ensemble synergy.

Goodwill and good music was in abundance here. Joyful audience reaction was consistent. This was a pastiche with segues that worked and never jarred, proceeding with unflagging energy. The
audience was reacting constantly with audible appreciation of each gift on the programme.

For myself, one true highlights of the event included the coupling of Oh Thou That Tellest Good Tidings To Zion with Messiah’s mighty Hallelujah!.  Michael Burden’s beautifully controlled, direct delivery captured the drama of expectation imminent hope so perfectly.

This moment was complete with well chosen, virtuosic ornaments and elaborations which renewed expertly the contours of this well known music.

An interlude is joyously sung and choreographed Spanish brought Arañés Chacona: A la vida bona to us with group Christmas joy. Such warmth combining orchestra, choir and conductor in infectious music and movement contrasted with special moments of more subdued excellence.

These times included the unaccompanied opening for voices alone, with finely chiselled angles of O Radiant Dawn by Macmillan swathing the acoustic to begin this offering.

The well packaged gift of an event also featured successful arrangements of the carols O Come, O Come Emmanuel and The Coventry Carol, the choir atmospheres being adorned by Christina
Leonard’s penetrating soprano saxophone line.

By the time Noël! Noël! 2023 reach its zenith  with the final two carols, the audience were well and truly in the Christmas and music-celebrating spirit.

The version of Stille Nacht here heard with bristling hushed control led us into a triumphant O Come All Ye Faithful to promote joy in this and all challenging years to our spirits.

This climax to the colour presentation truly achieved the concert’s subtitle as on the programme of ‘Beloved festive tradition brings unity and hope.’

Thank you again ABO for the inspiring year of music that was. And for Noël! Noël! 2023 which inspired us to laugh, love and look with hope to the future.