Cyprus Mail 24 December 2020 - by Eleni Philippou
Christmas is here! Just one more day to go and yet many of us are still searching for the festive spirit. With everything that has been going on this year, this holiday season, with its restrictions and stripped of its buzzing nightlife feels slightly bizarre and melancholic.
German markets, carol singing and Christmas concerts may have been cancelled this year but there are some festive events happening around the world, streamed online.
Today at 4pm Cyprus time, the Christ Church Jerusalem will broadcast its Christmas worship. Traditionally, the church hosts a large open house on Christmas Eve but with the current situation, they will connect with followers online through their YouTube channel. The service will include lessons, carol singing and live worship.
Also on this evening is an online carol service from York, UK. Usually, York Minster welcomes in 3,000 people on December 24 for their Evensong with Carols but in common with everything else these days, the service will take place online. Streamed from the York Minster Official YouTube channel, the candlelit service will begin at 6pm and include Christmas carols, readings, prayers and beautiful music from choir and organ.
Tomorrow evening, after a day of family lunches and wine relax with the Washington National Cathedral for a Christmas Day Organ Recital. At 7pm Cathedral organists Thomas Sheehan and George Fergus present a programme of festive Christmas music on the Cathedral’s Great Organ. Registration is required to connect with the cathedral though it is free. Register here.
Come January 1, and there is one concert that millions around the world eagerly await each year. The Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert is a long-standing tradition not only for those in Vienna as it is broadcasted in over 90 countries. This year, it will happen without a live audience but that doesn’t change much for us in Cyprus as CyBC always broadcasts it around noon.
For a local taste of entertainment, our very own Cyprus Symphony Orchestra is offering a pre-recorded streaming of their Christmas concerts on December 25 at 11am and on December 26 and 27 at 5pm. Together with soprano Aliki Chrysochou and renowned Maestro Gerardo Estrada Martínez, the Orchestra will present a selection of the most beautiful Christmas songs and orchestral pieces of all time. Tune in on CySO’s YouTube channel and feel the Christmas spirit through music!
Christmas Eve Live From Jerusalem
Lessons, carol singing and live worship. December 24. 4pm. Live streaming on YouTube @Christ Church Jerusalem - You Tube Jerusalem
Evensong Carols
Christmas carols, readings, prayers and music. December 24. Live streaming from York Minster on YouTube @YorkMinsterOfficial - You Tube York Minster
Christmas Day Organ Recital
December 25. Live stream from Washington National Cathedral. 7pm. www.cathedral.org/
Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert
Watch live on CyBC . Link to website stream Vienna NY concert
CySO Christmas Concerts - 24 & 25 December 11am, and 26 & 27 December 5pm
By the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra with soprano Aliki Chrysochou and maestro Gerardo Estrada Martínez. December 24 and 25 at 11am. December 26 and 27 at 5pm. Facebook @cyprussymphony and @PwC.Cyprus . CYSO Youtube channel. In collaboration with PwC Cyprus
