There's nothing like a choir to add Christmas cheer in the lead up to the merry season, and on Thursday, 14th November, the Collegium Musicum Choir will perform Saint-Saens sparkling Christmas Oratorio Op.12 at their final concert of the year, Noël à Paris.

The work calls for five soloists: soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor and baritone; as well as chorus and organ, and UNSW is thrilled to showcase the talent within its community. The Music Performance Unit spoke with soloists Amy Andresson, Adina Herz and Priscilla Issa about their preparation in the lead up to the performance this month. 

UNSW student Amy Andresson (soprano), whose soaring soprano voice can be heard above the choir (much like the angel atop the Christmas tree), has solos in five of the ten movements. Amy's preparation is multi-faceted: “For the soprano solo, I am preparing the music with reference to a number of recordings. I am also engaging in an analysis of the score, in order to further inform my interpretation. I also enjoy exploring the historical context of the piece and its place as a religious work, written when Latin was still a part of European Mass. I am excited to perform such a beautiful work with the UNSW Collegium Musicum Choir.”

Adina Herz (mezzo-soprano), also a UNSW student, similarly appreciates the importance of listening to multiple different performances: “I am looking forward to performing this beautiful piece of music alongside such talented musicians. In preparation for this performance, I've been listening to several performances of the Oratorio to gain a deeper understanding of the interpretive possibilities and sound world the work exists in.”

UNSW alumna Priscilla Issa (alto), a longtime member of the UNSW choral community, responded “I’m thrilled to bring Saint-Saëns’s Oratorio de Noël to life with the Collegium Musicum Choir and talented soloists. This solo offers a unique chance for me to convey its emotion to the audience, and delve into its nuances and technique to honour its beauty."

The other featured soloists include Angus Ledgerwood (tenor), and Jesse van Proctor (baritone). 

Book your tickets to see these soloists in action at the UNSW Collegium Musicum Choir Concert: Noël à Paris, on 14 November 2024, Sir John Clancy Auditorium.