From the desk of ROLAND ROCCHICCIOLI

THE annual Royal Melbourne Philharmonic’s Carols in the Cathedral — Victoria’s premier concert of traditional Christmas music, carols, and readings — will be staged December 19 and 20 — in Melbourne’s magnificent St Paul’s Cathedral. Starting in 1998 the concerts have become a cornerstone of Melbourne’s festive season.

It is St Paul’s 145th anniversary, and the 80th commemoration marking the end of the Second World War. On VP-Day (Victory in the Pacific) — August 15, 1945 — crowds assembled inside, and on the steps of, St Paul’s to give thanks for the Allied Victory.

Japanese aircraft attacked Darwin 64 times between 1942-43, and their midget submarines found their way into Sydney harbour. A full-scale invasion of Australia was deemed impracticable after their defeats at the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway; instead, they proposed to isolate Australia from Allied support. The United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. Subsequently, their capitulation ended WW2.

On Christmas Day 1945, Melbourne was in the middle of a heat wave — hitting 40.1°C. It was the first post–war Nativity following VP-Day. Across the Nation churches held Thanksgiving and Memorial Services for our returned and fallen servicemen and women, and for those communities recovering from the war. Congregations turned-out in unprecedented numbers. During their Christmas Day services celebrants of all denominations offered prayers of Thanksgiving, and prayed for a lasting Peace.

No matter how often we hear a carol, or a composition, it never loses it power to arrest. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear with words by Edmund H. Sears, 1849, and a tune, Noel, adapted by Sir Arthur Sullivan, is enduring. The words And men at war with men hear not/ The love song which they sing/Oh hush the noise ye men of strife/ And hear the Angels sing/ were written 125-years-ago and still they resonate across the years.

In the tradition of established Carol Services and Concerts, Carols in the Cathedral is an acoustic feast of spectacular fanfares and carols; glorious Christmas music and verse; massed choirs; talented soloists; and the RMP’s majestic brass and percussion consort. Add to all that the show-stealing skirl of the RMP/City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band and you have the ingredients for a perfect Carols in the Cathedral — a Christmas event not to be missed.

This year’s programme features a number of the popular classic carols — O Come All Ye Faithful, Once in Royal David’s City, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing — together with compositional works from Morton Lauridsen, Kim Andre Arnesen, Ola Gjeilo, Donald Fraser, and Dan Forrest.

Under the baton of maestro Andrew Wailes you will hear the soprano Helena Dix; the incomparable talent of pianist/accompanist Stefan Cassomenos together William Schmidt; the brilliance of organist Andrew Bainbridge whose thundering recessional bounces around the cathedral; the angelic pipes of the National Boys Choir of Australia; and the combined voices of Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir, Melbourne University Choral Society, and the Box Hill Chorale. Again, I will be joined by former ABC announcer, Julie Houghton, for scripture readings and homilies.

St Paul’s is the perfect venue for Carols in the Cathedral. The 100-voice choir is positioned on rostra; the soloists perform from the pulpit; and the cathedral’s vaulted ceiling facilitates the reverberating sound — keeping it pure and alive. It is a musical indulgence!

I look forward to seeing you in the audience!

BOOKINGS: TRYBOOKING: through the RMP website: rmp.org.au. Enquiries: [email protected]

Roland is heard with Brett Macdonald radio 3BA —

Monday 10.40am. Contact: [email protected]