Critic's Choice: Carol concert round-up
Warwick Thompson, Metro22 Dec 2006
Whether you're looking for a spiritually uplifting and traditional service of nine lessons and carols, or a singalong concert with Santa hats and zero theological content, you'll find it in London over the next few days.
For the ultimate traditional experience, tune in to Radio 4 at 3pm tomorrow, and listen to the Festival Of Nine Lessons And Carols from King's College, Cambridge. It's gorgeous and you can enjoy it while stuffing yourself with chocolates in your underwear. At least, that's what I do.
For the next best thing, there are some equally impressive live services in London. Westminster Abbey (SW1. Tel: 020 7222 5152. Tube: Westminster) has a carol service at 4pm on Christmas Eve and, due to popular demand, St Paul's Cathedral (EC4. Tel: 020 7236 4128. Tube: St Paul's) has two - at 1pm and 4pm. Choirboys, processions, candles, yada yada yada. Arrive early. Very early.
For something a bit more tinselly and with less of, you know, the Bible, head to the Barbican (Silk Street EC2. Tel: 0845 120 7550. Tube: Barbican). Impresario extraordinaire Raymond Gubbay is presenting concerts between now and January 1 with plenty of join-in carols. Tonight's event (7.30pm), called Christmas Gala, is led by Charles Collingwood and includes such gems as Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride and the Skaters'Waltz.
Tonight:
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