Date: 17 December 2004 19:48:27
Thank you to all for your wishes and comments on my uni results.
Last night I went to see The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra's Noël Noël concert. I discovered the ABO two years ago, and have attended their Christmas Noël Noël concerts since then, and will try and see a few more next year as well.
The performances never fail to excite and last night was no exception. From favourites such as Stille Nacht and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing to Portuguese and Catalan lullabies -- José embala o menino (Joseph rocks the baby); Mareta, mareta, no'm faces plorar (Mother, dear mother, don't make me cry) -- to works by Bach, Palestrina and Purcell, the night transported me back to the baroque period.
The choir, the orchestra and the guest soprano were all magnificent, but the performance of the night was the 11 or 12 students from St Gabriel's School for Hearing Impaired Children who sang two Christmas carols. The voices of children are always sweet, but considering those in the choir were profundly deaf, it was even sweeter to hear these kids. Many a tear was brought to my eye.
| Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Dir der Welt Heil gebracht Aus der Himmels goldenen Höhn. Uns der Gnanden Fülle lässt sehn Jesus in Menschengestalt. |
Silent night! Holy Night! Which brought the world redemption From Heaven's golden heights. The fullness of divine grace allows us to see Jesus in human form. |
| Stille Nacht, Joseph Mohr, verse 3 (tr. Alan Maddox) | |