On Thursday 4 December the festive spirit well and truly descended upon us in John Rutter's Christmas Celebration at the Royal Albert Hall, where we were joined by The Bach Choir, The King's Singers and BSL interpreter Angie Newman for carols old and new, classic seasonal fanfares, and John's legendary Christmas quiz.
Sir John was also presented with the Distinguished Musician Award by the Independent Society of Musicians, in recognition of his lifelong service to choral music-making and composition.
Read on to see more photos and reactions from the day.
Photos © Gurnoor Singh
The concert began with an orchestral fanfare that led into a resounding O come, all ye faithful from the entire Royal Albert Hall as the audience joined in for the arrangement by David Willcocks.
This was followed by three traditional carols sung by The Bach Choir - Ding dong! merrily on high, the Wexford Carol, and I saw three ships.
John Rutter then conducted one of the most joyful proclamations in choral history, the Gloria from J.S Bach's Mass in B minor.
The King's Singers performed three medieval carols a cappella, Angelus ad Virgenem, Gaudete, and a new arrangement of the gentle and warm Es ist ein’ Ros’ entsprungen by John Rutter which features a solo oboe, performed by our Principal Oboe John Roberts.
Not only was it John Rutter's 80th birthday this year, which we celebrated at St Paul's Cathedral in November, but it was composer, singer and conductor Bob Chilcott's 70th birthday earlier this year. To celebrate him, John conducted three carols composed and arranged by him, I wonder as I wander, which Bob had arranged for The King's Singers back in the 1980s, The Shepherd's Carol, and A Thanksgiving, again especially composed for The King's Singers, who act as one half of the chorus in this arrangement for double choir.
In the matinee performance, Sir John was presented with the Independent Society of Musicians' Distinguished Musician Award, presented by Chief Executive Deborah Annetts and ISM Treasurer and Welsh Baritone Dr Jeremy Huw Williams. The Award was presented in recognition of John's lifelong service to music-making, with his compositions being a staple of choral repertoire in the UK and around the world, and for his advocacy for music education for all children.
After the 'mystery item' section of John's annual Christmas Quiz, the first half closed out with the Twelve Days of Christmas, in an arrangement that took some twists and turns at every 'five gold rings'.
The second half opened with the carnival exuberance of the Dance of the Comedians from Smetana's The Bartered Bride, followed by another Czech tradition with the audience singing Good King Wenceslas.
After the second half of John's quiz, with entailed a little help from The King's Singers and some RPO elves, and the winners of the Mystery Item section drawn from a hat, John's arrangement of We wish you a merry Christmas imploring us all for a bit of figgy pudding.
The concert ended with David Willcock's arrangement of Mendelssohn's Hark! the herald angels sing.
Thank you to all who came and made the Royal Albert Hall that much more magical for Christmas.
'Terrific feeling singing with so many people and the orchestra and the Bach Choir!'
'It was wonderful. We had standing room tickets and were lucky to have some glorious singers behind us who hit the high notes of the descant with the best of them!'
'It was worth the journey from Brisbane Australia just for this magic evening! Thank you everyone!'
'Brilliant concert, and great fun, as always!'
'Loved every minute of it.'
'A wonderful concert, thank you so much!'
'Loved every minute! What a perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit!'
'It was absolutely wonderful!!!
Audience comments on Facebook and Instagram
Next year's Christmas Celebration will be on Friday 4 December 2026, so save the date! Bookings will open in March.