A unique opportunity to sing in France this Christmas (advanced notice, not yet 100% confirmed !)
4th – 9th December 2025
2 performances of Saint Nicolas by Britten (Choir and Orchestra)
(Limoges and Brive-La-Gaillarde) and
A traditional English Carol Concert (Choir, organ and Brass)
The Cathedral of Sarlat-la-Canéda
This is not an Official Sheffield Phil Tour, but is hosted and promoted by Matthew Morgan (Bass) ** with the Phil, with two highly successful mini tours of The Dordogne, in South West France, already under his belt.
It is aimed at Confident singers, that can be reasonably relied upon to learn the music at home, as there may be only 2 tutti rehearsals in the UK, prior to the Tutti rehearsal in France.
You must be a confident sight reader, and ideally have sung most, if not all of the repertoire before (The odd arrangement maybe new to everyone!)
Note, the Carol Concert in Sarlat, we will not necessarily be stationary for the performance, but may well move to different areas for certain songs, so some agility will be required, (you made need a desk lamp).
This will be opened to singers from the Sheffield Phil, The Halle and probably the CBSC, Birmingham, to ensure a reasonable quantity of confident and effective singers
Applications will be opened in the Spring as soon as more things (and repertoires) are confirmed.
Limited accommodation * with French-Friends / singers, may be available and will be prioritised for singers that may benefit from not having to pay for accommodation.
Travel to and from the central location (Brive) is anticipated to be by train, as the flights are restricted from UK regional airports in December.
A preliminary estimate for this element of costs would be £
Other costs;-
Your share of the 2 x tutti rehearsals (Sheffield, October and November TBC, 2x all day) with Professionals (Conductor Darius Battiwalla, and accompanist)
Your accommodation in France (subject to above *)
Food / eating out costs – France
** about the Organiser
Matthew Morgan is still a Member of The Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, though he lives mostly in the Dordogne, France.
He has arranged and promoted two mini tours in the Perigueux region of France where 45 singers from the Phil came in 2018, and 2024 (as well as the French choir’s return visit to Sheffield)
Matthew formed a Choir under the name of “Buxton Light Opera Chorus” to perform with the Band Blake, in Buxton Opera House, and as such, BLOC will be the Choir that you will be part of, with Matthew being the Musical Director.
He also sings with the Choir of St John’s Buxton and Buxton Musical Society (since 1980’s) in the UK, and Ateliers Tempête (Brive) and l’ensemble vocale – Perigueux, in France.
In France, we will work with our Friend and Colleague Patrick Hillard, whom will be the MD and conductor for the Britten Concerts, and will conduct the Carol Concert
The Organist at Sarlat, we hope to be Christopher Hainsworth (TBC)
Repertoire (work in Progress)
Sarlat Carols
- Once in Royal David’s City
- The Lamb, Taverner
- Ah Robin, William Cornish (edited by Matthew Morgan, 2025)
- Entre le boeuf et l’âne gris, Jean Bouvard
- Un Flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle, Arr. Rutter
- O Come, all ye faithful
- In the stillness, Sally Beamish
- Stille Nacht
- Ding dong merrily on high, Wood
- In dulci jubilo, JS Bach (Organ)
- Puer natus in Bethlehem, Samuel Scheidt
- In the bleak mid-winter, Harold Darke
- L’enfance du Christ, Hector Berlioz
- Gabriel’s message, Rutter
- Ein kind geborn zu Bethlehem, (a child is born in Bethlehem) Samuel Scheidt, Arr. Willcocks
- Coventry Carol, Sir David Willcocks
- Adam lay Ybounden, Sir David Willcocks
- God rest ye merry Gentlemen, Sir David Willcocks
- What child is this, Stephen Cleobury
- Hark the herald angels sing
Limoges and Brive
- Saint Nicolas, Benjamin Britten
- Oh Holy night, arr. D Battiwalla
- Others tbc