Precious little conveys the joy of Christmas more than the communal singing of carols. Throw in the majestic setting of a magnificent neo-Gothic cathedral and the sound of world-class voices and musicians, and you have all the elements of a stirring and memorable prelude to Christmas.
The Christmas Celebration at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday 22 December brought together music, culture and community in the true spirit of the season.
Mgr Stuart Hall, Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, welcomed those gathered at the Cathedral on behalf of the Archbishop of Melbourne, Archbishop Peter Comensoli, saying he was delighted to ‘see great numbers in front of me who have responded to the invitation to come together to this magnificent Cathedral to listen and participate in the Christmas carols.
I pray as we participate in the carols today that our hearts may be lifted up and that we do everything we can to restore, in our little part of the world at the very least, the spirit of peace.
‘At this time of the year, where we pray for peace and hope and wish goodwill to our brothers and sisters who come united in our Christian faith and the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ calls us to participate in the endeavours of peace in our world.
‘And so I pray as we participate in the carols today that our hearts may be lifted up and that we do everything we can to restore, in our little part of the world at the very least, the spirit of peace.’
With more than 500 registered to attend the free concert, plus walk-ins on the day, the Cathedral—beautifully adorned for Christmas—was filled to the very back. Wreaths decorated its towering pillars, with an Advent wreath to the left of the altar, and a nativity, awaiting the arrival of the holy infant later this week, on the right.
The Cathedral Choir, directed by Dr Philip Matthias, who also emceed the concert, were fresh form their recent European tour. They delivered a polished and passionate performance, having this month performed in some of the leading choral venues in Europe, including Salzburg Cathedral, St Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna—including a joint performance with the Vienna Boys’ Choir—the Capuchin Church in Vienna, the Basilica of Sts John and Paul in Venice and Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome, with the tour culminating in a performance at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.
The program for the Cathedral Christmas Celebration included new carols as well as old favourites. The concert started with the traditional Advent antiphon Rorate Caeli, followed by Kile Smith’s arrangement of ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’, for which the audience was invited to join in verse four.
A standout moment was Anderson Mokyiu’s animated rendition of Mozart’s ‘Alleluia’. The schoolboy soprano’s composed and commanding performance would be at home in the world’s greatest recital halls and earned spontaneous applause from the delighted and admiring audience.
Another highlight of the evening was the inclusion of two Torres Strait Islander carols sung in language, adding a unique cultural richness to the repertoire and a distinctly Australian flavour to the festivities.
The audience joined in enthusiastically for well-loved carols such as ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’ and ‘Once in Royal David’s City’, adding to the festive spirit.
Children were invited to the altar for a children’s segment—a warm, communal moment in the program The children, decked out in everything from Christmas finery to Captain America T-shirts, assembled with the choir, cantors and musicians, as parents carried the youngest ones, still babes in arms, up to the front so that they too could join in the performance. One lucky youngster was given the opportunity to contribute by ringing bells during a performance of an excerpt of the joyous, instantly recognisable ‘Jingle Bells’.
In the lead-up to the concert, attendees were invited to submit their favourite Christmas carols, along with a brief explanation of why the carol held special meaning for them. From these submissions, three were chosen for extemporised performances by guest organist Dr Anthony Halliday.
Introducing one of the carols selected for extemporisation, Dr Philip Matthias shared a story from Alexandra, who had requested it.
‘This carol is a Ukrainian folk song that has become a cherished Christmas carol. Composed in 1916, it tells the tale of a swallow flying into a household to announce the arrival of the new year, bringing with it the promise of prosperity, happiness and renewal. While originally a song to celebrate the harvest, it has come to symbolise hope of new beginnings and peace, values that resonate with us deeply this Christmas.
Amidst the ongoing struggles in our homeland, the carol is a reminder that no matter the distance or difficulty, there is always hope for a brighter future.
‘This year, our family is celebrating our first Christmas in Australia after relocating recently from overseas. We come from both Russian and Ukrainian roots and the melody of the carol has always been one that reminds us of our heritage. This song has a special place in our hearts, not only for its joyful rhythm but for its message of connection, resilience and the longing for peace.
‘Amidst the ongoing struggles in our homeland, the carol is a reminder that no matter the distance or difficulty, there is always hope for a brighter future. For our children it is more than just a Christmas carol; it’s a bridge to the past and connection to their grandparents, a piece of their cultural identity. As our children navigate their new life in Australia, the carol provides a sense of continuity. A reminder that they are not alone and that their heritage is alive in their hearts.’
Dr Halliday then delighted the audience with his extemporised version of ‘Carol of the Bells’, or ‘Shchedryk’ in the original Ukrainian, followed by ‘Silent Night’ and the uplifting ‘Joy to the World’, which were chosen from the pool of submissions
The concert closed with some more communal singing, this time of ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’, before children were gathered and people headed home to continue their Christmas preparations.
The Cathedral Christmas Celebration showcased the tremendous talent of the Cathedral music department. But perhaps more importantly, it also created a profound sense of unity and reflection, reminding all present of the hope, joy and peace at the heart of the Christmas season.
For those who missed out on the concert, there are still plenty of opportunities to catch carols at the Cathedral this Christmas season with each of the Christmas Eve vigil services and Midnight Mass preceded by a half-hour carol service. Details are available on the Cathedral webpage.
Banner image: Performers at the Cathedral Christmas celebration.
All photos taken by Melbourne Catholic.
