What’s on in York: Handel’s Messiah performed by the York Minster Choir

Experience the story of Christ through this celebrated and popular oratorio, performed by the York Minster Choir.

10 Dec 16

19.00

York Minster

The York Minster Choir will be joined by internationally renowned soloists this Christmas for a special performance of Handel’s Messiah in the beautiful setting of York Minster’s Nave. The famous work was first performed in Dublin in 1742 and has since become one of the best-known and most popular English oratorios. What better way to celebrate Christmas than to experience the story of Christ through this moving and poignant choral performance?

The soloists for the performance are:

Darren Jeffery Bass – Baritone
Thomas Elwin – Tenor
Julia Doyle – Soprano
Michael Chance CBE – Counter Tenor

Tickets are priced at: Front Nave: £25 Rear Nave: £18 Side Aisles: £12

BOOK TICKETS

When? 10 Dec 16 at 7pm

Where? York Minster

How much? £12-£25

What’s on in York: Yorkshire Bach Choir: Bach at Christmas

Music – Choir Concert,

Sat 10 Dec 2016

Yorkshire Bach Choir

National Centre for Early Music

JS Bach’s Magnificat with its exuberant choruses, colourful orchestration and beautiful solo writing perfectly captures the divine joy of a pregnant Mary.

No less infectious, or musically varied, is CPE Bach’s stylish 1749 setting of the Magnificat which energetically reinvigorates the magnificence of his father’s earlier setting.

The ever-popular cantata BWV 140 Wachet auf (“Sleepers, wake”) is the ultimate musical wake-up call for Advent featuring some of JS Bach’s most memorable and timeless music.

tickets.ncem.co.uk

What’s on in York: Ice trail in City centre

Festival,

Sat 10 – Sun 11 Dec 2016

Ice Trail

For one weekend the Ice Trail will transform York, sprinkling some magic across the city.

The Ice Trail is back for another glistening celebration of the city during the weekend of 10 and 11 December. Follow the trail to find 30 frosty figures made from crystal-clear ice sprinkled across the centre and surrounding streets.

Whilst you marvel at magnificent icy creations, you can enjoy festive treats at the street food stalls and sip mulled wine as you decide which sculpture is your next stop. The Ice Trail is a favourite in York’s festive calendar and the icing on top of your Christmas break in the city.

Don’t miss: The ice sculpture encasing a precious gemstone outside Bradley’s Jewellers

www.visityork.org/christmas.aspx

What’s on in York: Lucia in the Minster 2016

Music – Choir Concert,

Fri 9 Dec 2016,

Lucia in the Minster 2016

In collaboration with York Anglo-Scandinavian Society, York Minster hosts Swedish festival of light
A traditional Swedish service celebrating the bringer of light during the long darkness of winter will take place at York Minster on Friday 9 December.

Now in its fourth year, the atmospheric Sankta Lucia service features a candlelit procession and carols for all the family in celebration of St Lucy, a young Sicilian girl who was martyred for her Christian faith in the early fourth century. The service includes a procession led by a young girl wearing a crown of candles and is followed by traditional Swedish carols and songs. The crown of candles may symbolise a halo and the red sash martyrdom.
The procession will this year be led by the Swedish choir Järfälla kammarkör from a community just northwest of Stockholm and, as each year, they will be joined by girls from York Anglo-Scandinavian Society.

Sankta Lucia, Festival of Light, starts at 7.30pm on Friday 9 December (doors open at 7.00pm) and lasts for about an hour. Admission is free and no booking is required. There will be a collection during the service.

York Community Stadium – contractor pulls out

Reports are circulating this morning that the building contractor for the York Community Stadium has withdrawn from the project.

June 2012 plans

ISG was appointed nearly 2 years ago as part of a “design, build, operate & maintain” team overseen by Greenwich Leisure.

A Council report on the £41 million Community Stadium project was published on Friday but makes no reference to ISG’s position. The report – prepared by Council officials – was criticised for not providing an update on the projects financial and business plan.

The much delayed facility – originally scheduled to open in 2012 – is currently subject to a Judicial Review. The review is expected to be completed in January.

The delays may be taking their toll on the two principal occupants of the Stadium. The Knights Rugby Club was taken over by a new owner last week while York City Football Club currently lie bottom of the National League and seemingly heading for relegation and matches against the likes of Harrogate Town.

A deal was concluded in 2010 which saw a budget of £16 million secured by means of a Section 106 agreement with the developer of a nearby shopping centre.

Now it looks like taxpayers will also face a £12 million bill.

While most of the blame for the failures rest with the then Labour run administration, which drew up the unnecessarily complex contract in 2012, it is a crying shame that the current coalition run Council failed to get a grip on the project when it took control of local affairs in May 2015.

The Council is now caught between a rock and a hard place.

Community Stadium

York Knights Rugby League Club is to get a £45,000 subsidy from the Council next year. The payment will allow them to continue playing their games at Bootham Crescent. The recommendation is being made to a Council meeting next week and follows reports that the rugby club has been taken over by new owners.

It appears that the builders of the new Community Stadium may be unable – because of the delays caused by a Judicial Review of the plans – to sustain the tenders that they originally submitted.

Officials warn that the cost of the project could, therefore, increase.

Although the new stadium could be open in the summer of 2018, if the Judicial Review is successful then a new planning application would be needed.

This could add between 6 months and 12 months to the timetable.

Doubts continue over the future of the Yearsley swimming pool which – in the event of the new sports centre at Monks Cross getting the go ahead – could find itself in an increasingly competitive environment.

A report is expect early next year following discussions between the Council, Nestle and the Yearsley Pool Action Group. Many residents would prefer to retain the Yearsley facility while jettisoning the expensive new pool at Monks Cross, which is inessential and adds substantially to the Community Stadium project costs.

The Council claims in the report that agreement has now been reached on the use of some facilities at the Community Stadium by the NHS, York Against Cancer and York Libraries,

The report pointedly does not provide an revised financial appraisal of the project or an updated business plan.

What’s on in York: Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol

Play at Castle Museum,

Mon 5 – Sun 18 Dec 2016

Kirkgate, York Castle Museum

NEW for 2016!
Join us for an immersive and intimate production of Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol on the festively decorated Victorian street Kirkgate.

Take a walking tour along the cobbles and travel through time with Ebenezer Scrooge on his journey of redemption and enlightenment to fine the true meaning of Christmas. Includes a glass of wine and a mince pie.

Please see Eventbrite for details and to book – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/charles-dickens-a-christmas-carol-tickets-28722954129.

www.yorkmuseumstrust.org.uk