The Snowman, the full scenario lasting from 26 minutes up, with Jeffery Dench, well known Actor from The Royal Shakespeare Company, and choirboy/girl soloist. Music will include (and words) The Twelve Days of Christmas, by John Julius Norwich, composer, Edward Watson.   Carols will include Three Breton Carols: See the Baby Lie, Noel, The Christmas Cake Carol Lots of well-known and popular: Patapan, Ding Dong Merrily, We’ve been awhile a wandering, Hark the Herald, O Little Town, Torches etc, etc. Austrian section with Silent Night and Songs from the Sound of Music Sheep May Safely Graze - Bach Ave Maria, Joy to the World - Handel Shepherd’s Tune, Christmas Concerto - Corelli Pastoral Symphony - Bach Christmas Oratorio Christmas Roundelay - A. Pointer-Bayer Romeo and Juliet Dances - Leslie Bridgewater Sleigh Ride with Choir boy playing the Sleigh Bells Spoken word will be taken from A Winter’s Tale - Dylan Thomas Ghost Story Christmas - John Betjeman Bells Ringing - Leonard Clark The Computer’s First Christmas Card - Edwin Morgan Mr Pickwick under the Mistletoe - Dickens The Journey of the Magi - T.S. Eliot The Hippopotamus’s Birthday - E.V. Rieu The Tickle Rhyme - Ian Seraillier William’s Christmas - Richmal Crompton

ENGLISH SERENATA

English Serenata includes distinguished musicians drawn from major orchestras throughout the country. Its chamber concert programmes range from three to fifteen artists. The very successful larger programmes feature leading Royal Shakespeare Company actors and TV and Radio personalities as narrators, including John Nettles, Robert Powell, Jenny Agutter, Richard Baker, Angela Rippon and David Jacobs. Lady Walton enjoys the flamboyant role of soloist in our performances of Façade, conducted by Guy Woolfenden, which we toured with Henry V to  the Lebanon to celebrate Walton’s centenary year.

  A six-year residency at the University of Wolverhampton has allowed the ensemble to develop many exciting smaller programmes, both classical and contemporary. English Serenata has recorded and commissioned pieces from composers including Thea Musgrave, Howard Blake, Guy Woolfenden, Edward Watson, Rory Boyle and Ilona Secacz, as well as students and staff from the university. It has developed music theatre and puppet projects with school children countrywide, including The Pied Piper, Dahl Stew and a mammoth choral project featuring the late Jon Pertwee and The All-Electric Puppet Theatre. A jazz collaboration, touring with New Perspectives, has been a great success.

  Imaginatively themed programmes give audiences a chance to hear unexpectedly attractive pieces which always provoke welcome response.  “A Night in Old Vienna” includes Mahler as well as Strauss, evoking surprised pleasure in new listeners (and perhaps earning the whole ensemble drinks at the bar from one anonymous visitor from the US recently!).  The Thuille Sextet gives delight to audiences who come to hear the Mozart Quintet and  discovered this sunny Austrian composer who admired Brahms. The ensemble’s concerts are never dull. 

Venues countrywide and abroad include Prague Castle, The Queen Elizabeth Hall, The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, The Barbican Theatre and Buckingham Palace, by invitation of HRH the Prince of Wales, music societies, theatres and festivals. 

  English Serenata has broadcast on BBC and Independent radio and television, including an award-winning Yorkshire TV Calendar film on the blind Dales poet Margaret Buckle. Its wide repertoire of music for Shakespeare productions has prompted many TV appearances in Great Britain and a prime time Czech TV film of Sweet Swan of Avon in St. George's Basilica in Prague! John Nettles, who has also taken the ensemble to Jersey to perform Henry V, starred on this British Council Tour.

  Current CDs include the internationally acclaimed Sweet Swan of Avon, 

(music from the Royal Shakespeare Company archives) 

New Perspectives and Jacqueline Dankworth  "A E Housman Centenary"                           

 "outstanding British Jazz CD release of 1996" (Sunday Times). 

Latest release, Howard Blake Chamber Music, with Martyn Hill, tenor

English Serenata, a group of versatile musicians drawn from all over Britain, recognised countrywide and abroad for their exciting and innovative chamber music performances and recordings, often with leading actors from the RSC.