When does Christmas begin? This seems an innocent enough question, but dig a little deeper and yule (yes, I went there) find it’s debated with enough heat to cook a thousand Christmas birds.
For some, the festive season starts with the first sighting of a Christmas advert on the telly box, which nowadays is usually early October. For others, the time to put the tree up is the moment they hear Fairytale of New York on the radio. And for those with the patience of a Casper, a Balthazar or a Melchior, it only really begins on Christmas Eve with of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
For me, it starts with a trip to The Bridgewater Hall to hear one of the Hallé’ orchestra’s wonderful Christmas concerts. Some years, that is their annual masterly performance of Handel’s Messiah, while in others it’s their Christmas Cracker, a selection of all-time favourite Christmas hits. But, in 2025, it was one of the Hallé’s wonderful carol concerts, and it was like coming home for Christmas.
Photo by David Hughes
A festive full house was treated to an afternoon of singing, music and merriment with a full orchestra and the massed choirs of the Hallé – the ever splendid Hallé Choir, the admirable Hallé Youth Choir and last, but most certainly not least, the little angels (and show-stealers) of the Hallé Children’s Choir.
On the podium was our very own Fezziwig, conductor Stephen Bell, who not only wielded the baton adroitly but charmed, entertained and enlightened the audience with Christmas cracker jokes, fascinating facts about the music, and Hallé Carol Concert lore galore.
We marvelled at the power and glory of the orchestra and massed choirs as they delivered a splendid rendition of For unto us a Child is Born from Messiah. We delighted in the familiar melodies of Gaudete, Deck the Halls, and Jingle Bells, and listened spellbound to O Magnum Mysterium.
And, of course, we grew by turns wistful for Christmas past, joyful at Christmas present, and hopeful for Christmas yet to come, as we sang our hearts out to all our favourite carols.
The Hallé is a cultural gem which has been a part of Manchester for more than a century and a half, and each year it puts a big festive smile on the faces of people from across the north west of England, but this year also in Sheffield and Birmingham.
And there’s plenty left to see, including a rather exciting and intriguing Gatsby & The Jazz Age concert on December 30, and the traditional end of festive season Viennese New Year concert.
And so dear reader, allow me to close by wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas, and as Tiny Tim (who did not die) observed, ‘God bless us, everyone!’
Main image by David Hughes
For more information about Christmas concerts by the Hallé, click here.
