Choir returns for Christmas special

FOUR centuries of music will be on display in a festive performance by the Melbourne Bach Choir next month.

The group’s performance entitled A Christmas Fanfare will features music spanning 400 years including traditional Christmas carols.

There will be choral works by Bach, Praetorius, Pinkham, Victoria, Poulenc, Britten and more.

Rick Prakhoff will be conducting the group with Calvin Bowman playing the organ, as well as accompaniment by a brass quintet.

“Of course, we are the Melbourne Bach Choir, so the concert starts with two beautiful short works by Johann Sebastian Bach,” said Prakhoff.

“Then at the end of the concert we have the brass carols and the last three are very well-known ones that the audience can join is to sing.”

Although the group has performed many times in Ballarat over the years, this is the first time they’re putting on a Christmas themed concert.

“We’ve done a lot of performances at Ballarat Central Uniting Church and we love performing there but this is actually the first time since we formed we are doing a Christmas carol concert,” said Prakhoff.

“We’re all quite excited about that and the audience gets to do a bit of sing along as well which everyone loves.”

Prakhoff said choir members enjoy returning regularly to Ballarat.

“Ballarat has always had a wonderful tradition of music and arts and it’s been a very strong centre,” he said.

“We always get a good audience and a knowledgeable audience that just wants to have a really good time.”

The performance will take place on Saturday 9 December at 2.30pm at the Ballarat Central Uniting Church. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at mbc.asn.au.