Gogol - The Night Before Christmas
Berkhamsted Civic Centre
Saturday 2 December 2017 at 7.30pm

Matthew Sharp (narrator, bass baritone, cello)
David Le Page (violin)
Clare O'Connell (cello)
Stuart King (clarinet)
Milos Milivojevic (accordion)

A magical retelling of Nikolai Gogol’s story “The Night Before Christmas”, interwoven with a ravishing selection of Russian and Ukrainian music and song. This uproarious tale tells of the blacksmith Vakula’s battle with the devil, who has stolen the moon and hidden it in his pocket. Vakula is in love with the beautiful Oksana but she will not marry him unless he brings her the Tsarina’s slippers. Now he needs the devil’s help …

Multitalented bass baritone, cellist and storyteller Matthew Sharp joins Chroma musicians to tell the story in words, song and music. The programme includes Ukrainian carols and Ukrainian folk music together with …

Rimsky Korsakov - Christmas Eve Suite and Snowmaiden Suite (excerpts) 

Tchaikovsky  - Cherevichki (The Tsarina’s Slippers) (excerpts)

Arensky Quartet in A minor Op 35 for violin, viola and 2 cellos 1st mvt

Glazunov - Eastern Romance

Cesar Cui - Ti i Vi

Tchaikovsky - Otchevo from 6 Romances for Bass Baritone

Rachmaninov -  In the silence of the night

Borodin - For the shores of your distant homeland