‘Sing your hearts out!’: our advice for The Big (Christmas) Sing
19 Nov 2024
After its resounding success last year, we’re bringing The Big (Christmas) Sing back to Ballarat’s historic Civic Hall to herald the start of the festive season.
The concert features local artists and Victorian Opera Prize Winner’s Michaela Cadwgan and Douglas Kelly, who will be singing a range of beloved Christmas carols, alongside renowned arias and songs. In the festive spirit of togetherness, we encourage the audience to join them in song.
Keeping us all in unison will be Phoebe Briggs, Victorian Opera’s Head of Music. Phoebe has been an essential part of Australia’s opera scene for 20 years, and has appeared in concerts in Australia, the United Kingdom, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Japan.
We asked her what the audience can expect at the The Big (Christmas) Sing.
What are some of the festive tunes people can expect to sing along to?
The concert will feature all sorts of Christmas favourites like The First Noel, The Little Drummer Boy, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, and Silent Night, as well as O Holy Night and Gesu Bambino.
It’ll also feature my favourite: the Gamley arrangement of The Twelve Days of Christmas, made famous by Joan Sutherland.
What’s it like conducting a big audience?
There’s nothing like the sound and sensation of a whole room full of people singing their hearts out! It’ll be a real joy.
What's the best part about working in Ballarat for this event?
I have been rehearsing with the Ballarat Choral Society and the Ballarat Symphony Orchestra over the last few weeks and it has been a real pleasure to get to know the two groups in preparation to bringing everyone together at the final rehearsal before the concert. There is a rich history of music making in Ballarat and you can really feel the choir and orchestra’s love of singing and playing.
Do you have any singing advice to offer the audience before they join in?
Take a good deep breath and then dive on in! Sing your hearts out!
What's on your Christmas day soundtrack?
Hmm, probably Vince Guaraldi Trio’s A Charlie Brown Christmas and Casey Bennetto’s Swingin’ Bella Christmas!
Give the gift of music to the next generation: Victorian Opera is excited to offer a beautifully crafted pack of 5 unique Christmas gift cards for just $10. Purchasing these cards will help us provide bus transport for primary school children across Victoria to attend our education performances in 2025. Buy them now.