My usual reaction to holiday season concerts is (polite version) “Bah humbug”.  The less polite version involves reindeer placement.  That said Thursday’s concert from the COC Ensemble Studio was really rather enjoyable.

It opened with Brian Cho and Mattia Senesi doing a four hands version of “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”.  Regrettably they didn’t dance.  I guess Korin Thomas-Smith could have filled that role as later in the day he showed some very cool moves but that’s another story.

There was Handel of course; Queen Hezumuryango with “O Thou that Tellest Good Tidings to Zion” and Wesley Harrison with “Ev’ry Valley”.  Both of those featured later in the day too.  But that’s another story.

There was a lovely and most charming version of Pietro Yon’s Gesù Bambino from Karoline Podolak and Alex Hetherington.  Both of them were back later; Alex with the Wexford Carol and Karoline with Adam’s O Holy Night.  Definitely the highlights for those who like the traditional Christmas flavour.

There was songbook stuff with Korin singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and Ariane Cossette and Wesley with a playful version of What Are you Doing New Year’s Eve?.  Ariane continued that theme with Auld Lang Syne (all the verses).

They finished up with nicely arranged ensemble staples; Gruber’s multi-lingual Sainte nuit and the inevitable White Christmas which probably ought to be retired due to climate change.

Photo credits: Karen E.Reeves.