Christmas at Cadogan returns in 2022 for another programme of concerts perfect for the festive season, featuring world class orchestras, choirs, soloists and family events. This year’s highlights include:
- Family favourites, The Snowman and The Gruffalo bought to life by the Mozart Symphony Orchestra
- Choral extravaganzas including concerts from The Sixteen, the English Chamber Choir, The Choir with No Name and carols by candlelight in full 18th-century costume
- The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra return for two festive performances
- West End superstars including Sierra Boggess, Matt Lucas, John Owen-Jones, Louise Dearman and Rachel John
Festive Spectaculars
A regular highlight of Christmas in Chelsea, the Mozart Symphony Orchestra returns to Cadogan Hall for its annual performance of the timeless classic, The Snowman, for which the film is shown on a big screen with a live symphony orchestra providing the soundtrack. Also in the show – following the huge success of The Gruffalo (for narrator and orchestra) at Cadogan Hall last summer, it makes a welcome return alongside its sequel, The Gruffalo’s Child (Thursday 22 December, 1:30pm & 4:30pm).
In A Dickensian Christmas, audiences are invited to toast the Christmas spirit with Charles Dickens and celebrate the very best of Victorian carols, classics and a selection of readings from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, presented by Stephen Mangan (Saturday 24 December, 2:30pm).
The Sophie Adams Ballet Company and Artisti Con Brio String Quartet come together for an enchanting evening of music in Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Gala, as five ballet dancers bring to life classical ballet excerpts from the Christmas classic, including Clara, Waltz of the Flowers and the Sugar Plum Fairy (Friday 2 December, 6pm & 8:30pm).
The Choir with No Name, an organization that run choirs involving homeless and marginalized people, returns with its London choirs annual festival sing-along, to fill Cadogan Hall with festive cheer. Audiences can expect all the Christmas classics as well as special guests Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir. All proceeds from the concert will support the work of The Choir with No Name (Wednesday 14 December, 7pm).
Further highlights include a Viennese Spectacular from the UK-based chamber orchestra London Concertante who will waltz through music including Tchaikovsky’s elegant Nutcracker Suite, Brahms’ serious Hungarian Dance No.5 and Strauss’ The Blue Danube (Tuesday 27 December, 7:30pm); and Swing into Christmas, as The Down for the Count Orchestra returns to Cadogan Hall for a festive celebration featuring the music of Nat ‘King’ Cole, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald and many more in a luscious 28-piece orchestral setting (Wednesday 28 December, 7:30pm).
Choral Events
The Sixteen return once again to Cadogan Hall to present a typically varied a cappella Christmas programme that draws on festive-inspired repertoire from the Renaissance to the present day. Conducted by Harry Christophers the performance will contrast much-loved modern classics including Gabriel Jackson’s The Christ-child with the Renaissance sounds of Palestrina’s Videntes stellam Magi (Thursday 15 December, 7:30pm and Wednesday 21 December, 7:30pm).
A feast of festival music from Barts Choir and the Trafalgar Sinfonia conducted by Ivor Setterfield includes John Rutter’s exuberant setting of the Magnificat, Finzi’s In terra pax, and Cecilia McDowall’s Christus natus est, a sequence of five carols including Gaudete! and Infant Holy (Wednesday 7 December, 7:30pm & Thursday 8 December, 7:30pm).
Further highlights include Carols by Candlelight, a sublime concert of carols and seasonal classics, staged in full 18th-century costume in an evocative candle-lit style setting (Friday 23 December, 2:30pm &7:30pm); Handel’s Messiah, presented by conductor Nicholas Kraemer with VOCES8, the VOCES8 Foundation Choir, the English Chamber Orchestra and a host of starry performers in a performance of (Sunday 4 December, 6pm); and the Bach Choir and special guests London City Brass present a magical evening of Christmas carols conducted by David Hill. Featuring the winning entry in the annual Sir David Willcocks Carol Competition which supports and encourages composers of all ages (Tuesday 20 December, 7:30pm).
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Resident at Cadogan Hall, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra present a much-loved annual concert of seasonal classics and sing-along carols conducted by Stephen Bell. Featuring popular carols and festive music including O Come, All Ye Faithful, Hark! the Herald Angels Sing and Winter Wonderland, with two special guest vocalists – Oliver Tompsett and Katie Birtill (Saturday 10 December, 3pm & 7:30pm).
Earlier in December Shiyeon Sung conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in a winter wonderland of festive music, from Tchaikovsky’s beloved ballet suites The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty, to seasonal favourites such as Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretal (Thursday 1 December, 7:30pm).
West End Stars
Cadogan Hall welcomes a host of starry names for West End fans this Christmas.
West End Does: Christmas presents a mix of traditional and contemporary Christmas carols and songs sung by the very best of the West End. Hosted by West End singer and comedic legend Matt Lucas and featuring West End stars including John Owen-Jones (Les Misérables, Phantom), Louise Dearman (Wicked) and Rachel John (Hamilton) alongside choirs from Stagebox, Guildford School of Acting (Saturday 3 December, 2:30pm & 26:30pm).
West End superstar Sierra Boggess (The Little Mermaid, The Phantom of the Opera, School of Rock) presents a concert of her favourite music, including some festive classics (Sunday 11 December, 2:30pm & 6:30pm).
Following sell-out performances across the globe, The Definitive Rat Pack showcase an evening of festival classics, including White Christmas, Baby It’s Cold Outside and Mack the Knife. Featuring Stephen Triffitt as Frank Sinatra, Mark Adams as Dean Martin and George Daniel Long as Sammy Davis Jr with The Golddiggers and The Manhattan Swing Orchestra (Saturday 17 December, 2:30pm & 7:30pm).