From angels singing to confused shepherds, to the devil “shooting up in the air like a rocket!” – the internationally renowned vocal ensemble I Fagiolini brings an animated cast of Christmas characters to life in foot-tapping music from Italy, Germany and Spain.  

Across the evening a hypnotic Neapolitan tarantella dance will ward off Lucifer, while from Salamanca, a villancico for voices, strings and percussion bring the “the Devil down in flames!” At the other end of the scale Bach paints Advent knocking on the door of Christ’s arrival, and Monteverdi’s much-loved ‘Beatus vir’ gives a taste of Christmas Vespers.  

This programme is made particularly captivating by the ever-innovative I Fagiolini’s theatrical flair, and the playing of baroque violinist Rachel Podger’s Brecon Baroque, a group of some of the world’s finest period-instrument specialists. 

Monteverdi Beatus vir
Monteverdi Rimanti in pace
J. S. Bach Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 61
Vivaldi Concerto in G Minor for strings RV157
Handel Pifa Symphony from Messiah
Cristofaro Caresana La Tarantella
Juan Francés de Iribarren Xacara de Navidad!

Rory Carver tenor

I Fagiolini
Brecon Baroque
Rachel Podger violin
Robert Hollingworth director