Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
“The choir has worked with incredible enthusiasm on the music and the results sound fantastic” Julian Wilkins, Director, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir
For a number of years, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir has been a cornerstone of the Christmas festivities at Compton Verney, Warwickshire. Renowned for their candlelit performances in the breathtaking Capability Brown chapel, the choir has brought joy and enchantment to audiences young and old with their moving renditions of seasonal choral music.
Now, this beloved tradition will be made available for the first time on CD in September 2026, on the Convivium Label. This recording features a selection of the varied and captivating repertoire the choir has shared in their recent Christmas concerts, offering a musical journey that spans centuries of Christmas and seasonal choral music. From the timeless beauty of works by William Byrd, Gabriel Fauré, and Sergei Rachmaninoff, to the more contemporary voices of Bob Chilcott, Reena Esmail, and Errollyn Wallen, the choir’s expressive performances shine with sensitivity, energy, and panache.
Whether you’re discovering these exquisite pieces for the first time or returning to the warmth and wonder of Christmas music, this album brings the magic of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir to your home – capturing the spirit, joy, and timeless beauty of the festive season.
Chilcott Soloists (In order of appearance)
- Rosie Woodhouse (A)
- Beth Taylor (S1)
- Alexandra Burstow (S2)
- Sebastien Sgouraditis (T)
With:
- Pianos: James Keefe & Alex Wyatt
- Percussion: William Peutherer
“This piece was originally written for the Final of Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year in 2000, and subsequently revised for the same event in 2002. The main idea behind it was to provide a small ‘solo’ for the soloists, ensembles, and choirs guesting at both events by turning the ‘five gold rings’ refrain into a tailor-made, miniature ‘showcase’ for each of them.
A distinguished list of performers took part. Two choirs, the Scunthorpe Co-operative Junior Choir and the London Adventist Chorale in conjunction with the Croydon Seventh Day Adventist Gospel Choir, were common to both performances. Singers appearing at one or other of the events included Ruby Turner, Jason Howard, the King’s Singers, the Cambridge Chord Company, Cantores Novae, the Exmoor Singers, Sharon Clarke, the Opera Babes, the BBC Singers, Matrix, The Berkshire Youth Choir and Choros Amici.
This version of the piece is for one SATB choir, but it retains the flexibility to include ‘guest’ ensembles or soloists. The audience can also join in with the ‘chorus’. The most important thing is to have fun with it!
I am grateful to Terry Edwards for giving me the ‘five gold rings’ idea, and to Bill Kallaway for enabling it to happen.”
Bob Chilcott, Composer
