Notice: A Musical Retelling of A Christmas Carol – Holy Trinity Church on December 16

Published on: 9 Nov, 2024
Updated on: 10 Nov, 2024

Holy Trinity Church in the High Street is hosting the premiere of a musically retelling of the wonderful tale, A Christmas Carol, on December 16.

Written by Guildford’s own international composer, Will Todd, with a libretto by David Simpatico, Opera Holland Park use the melodies of traditional Victorian carols and the midwinter chimes of hand bells to tell each episode of Charles Dickens’s seasonal ghost story.

All the well known characters, Ebenezer Scrooge, the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, and the family and friends whose kindness Scrooge has hardened his heart against, come together in a story for all ages about the meaning of Christmas with a festive happy ending.

Tickets are available at the Opera Holland Park Box Office.

Will Todd writes about the piece: “It’s a long time since I began my musical journey, growing up in County Durham and singing in my local choir and learning the violin with the County Music Service.

“I was always obsessed with playing around at the piano and loved trying to make up tunes and songs even when I was at primary school. (Remember, no social media or gaming so I had to make do with the piano!)

“Hopefully it wasn’t time wasted as I have gone on to have lots of great musical adventures and am proud to be able to call myself a professional composer. I’ve had lots of great support along the way and count myself fortunate to have had the success that I have had, including working with Welsh National opera, Opera North, Opera Holland Park, The BBC Singers and many other fantastic music ensembles.

“I’m particularly proud of my association with choirs local to Guildford and Surrey including Vivace Chorus, Guildford Choral Society and The Leith Hill Festival.

One of Marley’s Ghosts

“But back at the start of my music making I had a dream to make a musical version of Christmas Carol. Like lots of youngsters I first heard a version of the story when I was quite small and was captivated by Scrooge, Marley and the ghosts, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim and the ultimately wonderfully redemptive story of how Scrooge comes to open his heart to the world.

“So I did what any 10-year-old would do. I started writing a musical about it. I got very busy and wrote some music for the opening and for Marley’s appearance, all written out on manuscript paper with blue biro pen! After one and half scenes I was exhausted and my Scrooge Show was just one of many unfinished projects during my teens.

“But I’ve continued deep down to want to ‘finish’ that idea so imagine my joy when US writer David Simpatico suggested we collaborate on a version of Christmas Carol using an actor as Scrooge/Narrator and eight opera singers playing parts and singing Christmas Carols.

“He’s done a fantastic adaptation using only Dickens’ original text and I’ve created music and songs with that to create what we hope is a magical presentation of this timeless story.

“We were incredibly fortunate that Opera Holland Park, who commissioned my opera Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland in 2013, were keen to help us develop the piece and that it’s now happening, including a first performance at Holy Trinity Guildford on December 16th.

“Come and join us to hear the story once again and to sing some carols together at the end.

“I’m afraid the music from my childhood has not survived into this version but I’m so thrilled that my dream to do a version of this brilliant story has finally been able to come to life.

“Christmas dreams can come true – even after 40 years.”