A FIGUREHEAD of Ballarat\u2019s choral composing history is set to be celebrated with an upcoming concert.<\/p>\n
Later this month, vocalists from Cordelia\u2019s Potted Operas, with Grace Notes Singers and Huntingtower Student Choir will perform a program of Christmas carols with a focus on the works of Ballarat composer William G James.<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s Potted Operas founder Stee Cordelia said James\u2019 works have long represented Christmas in Australia for her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came out here from Scotland for a year to teach at a private girls\u2019 school in Melbourne,\u201d she said. \u201cChristmas was coming up and everyone was getting excited.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was thinking it was going to be all white-Christmas pieces reminding me of Scotland, but they had a special choir performance and William James appeared.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe choir sang his carols he\u2019d written with John Wheeler. Every Christmas I think of that event. It gave me a picture of Christmas in Australia with the birds and the weather.\u201d<\/p>\n
As well as Christmas carol classics, the program will highlight James\u2019 Christmas carols he wrote with lyrics by ABC staff writer John Wheeler in the 1940s and 1950s.<\/p>\n
Cordelia said she hopes the concert will give attendees a similar appreciation for James\u2019 carols which she\u2019s had for about five decades.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the thrill of closing your eyes and imagining Christmas in Australia,\u201d she said. \u201cThese carols speak to the Australian condition.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the colours, the climate, the nature, the birds, and animals. You don\u2019t get that European picture in your head because it\u2019s not about snow and sleighbells.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s Potted Operas\u2019 Australian Christmas Carols concert will take place on Saturday 16 December from 3pm at the Anglican Cathedral Church of Christ the King.<\/p>\n
Tickets are $10 children and $30 adult and can be booked at bit.ly\/40W2qUm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A FIGUREHEAD of Ballarat\u2019s choral composing history is set to be celebrated with an upcoming concert. Later this month, vocalists from Cordelia\u2019s Potted Operas, with Grace Notes Singers and Huntingtower Student Choir will perform a program of Christmas carols with a focus on the works of Ballarat composer William G James. Cordelia\u2019s Potted Operas founder […]<\/p>\n