Chelmsford Cathedral
Saffron Hall comes to Chelmsford Cathedral with a new series of exceptional live concerts bringing some of the UK’s finest artists and ensembles to the heart of the city. From internationally celebrated performers to some of the country’s leading ensembles, this new concert series offers the chance to experience extraordinary world class music right on your doorstep.
Friday 11 December, 7.30pm
“Songs of good cheer – Christmas is here.” That irresistible seasonal ear-worm Carol of The Bells sets the tone for a magical feast of Christmas music for everyone, including the chance to join forces with The Sixteen to sing some of the best loved audience carols of them all. This is a vibrant and varied mix of the traditional with some unexpected delights, from medieval to modern. The luminous beauty of Morten Lauridsen rubs shoulders with folk carols and brilliant arrangements of familiar tunes, and with music by today’s most celebrated carol composers Bob Chilcott and John Rutter. As we look forward to Christmas, it’s ancient traditions, the spirit of the season, all wrapped up in that glorious song of old.
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Traditional I Wonder as I Wander
Morten Lauridsen O Magnum Mysterium
Will Todd Let Me Walk in Peace
Gareth Treseder Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day
Anon The Salutation Carol
Reena Esmail The Unexpected Early Hour – Lauds (from A Winter Breviary)
Audience Carol Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Traditional Wassail Song
Bach/Traditional Prelude BWV 729 / In dulci jubilo / Prelude BWV 608
Audience Carol O Little Town of Bethlehem (verses 1–4)
Bob Chilcott The Shepherd’s Carol
Anon Gaudete
Alec Roth Lullaby Carol
arr. Darius Battiwalla I Saw Three Ships
Cecilia McDowall Now May We Singen
Britten A New Year Carol
Leontovych Carol of the Bells
Margaret Rizza As Joseph Was A-Walking
Audience Carol O Come, All Ye Faithful (verses 1, 2 and 6)
Lucy Walker There Is No Rose
Traditional arr. Rutter Sans Day Carol
Parry Welcome, Yule
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Premium - £41 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block A - £35 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block B - Side Facing - £25 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block B - restricted View - £21 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block C - £21 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block D - £21 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block E - £29 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block E restricted view - £21 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block F - Side Facing - £21 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Thursday 11 February 2027, 7.30pm
Oh to have been a guest – or even a riverside bystander – at one of George I’s floating soirees on the Thames. Handel – the King’s favourite – supplied music of pomp, swagger and elegance to these legendary occasions. The OAE frame their programme with extensive selections from Handel’s soundtrack to a royal knees-up, along with one of Bach’s effervescent Brandenburg concertos and music by some of the era’s greatest composers including Vivaldi, Albinoni and Purcell. This is a programme that revels in the best the baroque has to offer, from boisterous and stately dances to gorgeous, sonorous slow music - music for the open air, the dancefloor and the theatre. The OAE have this music in their bloodstream, and play it with freshness, elegance and verve.
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Handel Bourrée from Water Music Suite in D major
Handel Sarabande and Rigadons from Water Music Suite in G major
Albinoni Oboe Concerto (slow movement)
Geminiani La Folia
Vivaldi Il gardellino, slow movement
Jacquet de La Guerre Céphale et Procris: Demons, Air, Gigue
Bach Cello Suite No. 1 (first movement)
Purcell Chacony
Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 4
Handel Menuets and Country Dances from Water Music Suite in G major
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Premium - £39 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block A - £35 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block B - Side Facing - £25 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block B - restricted View - £21 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block C - £21 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block D - £21 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block E - £29 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block E restricted view - £21 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block F - Side Facing - £21 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Thursday 11 March 2027, 7.30pm
An evening with star saxophonist Jess Gillam is one well-spent . “Not just one of Britain’s most virtuosic instrumentalists” enthused The Times “but also an unstuffy, inspiring personality.” As warm, genuine and enthusiastic onstage as she is on the airwaves, she presents her concerts with a unique charisma and charm. But most of all of course, it is her astonishing musicianship that beguiles us – nothing seems to come between her and the music. An eclectic set list is assured – Gillam brings the same energy and freshness to Bach as she does to Bowie – and with her hand-picked band attuned to her every musical move, this is a joyful celebration of her creativity, talent and wide-ranging musical tastes.
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Premium - £37 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block A - £33 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block B - Side Facing - £23 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block B - restricted View - £19 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block C - £19 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block D - £19 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block E - £28 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block E restricted view - £19 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Block F - Side Facing - £19 (inc. £1.00 Cmsn)
Seating plan
