The first choral event on the Winterval Choral Trail is sure to be an uplifting performance from the Irish Doctor’s Choir. The choir will present a two-hour performance of “Samson” by George Frederick Handel at Christ Church Cathedral on November 26 at 3.30 p.m.
On December 3, The Armed Man—A Mass for Peace by Notable Works, will be held at St. John’s Church with the Waterford Concert Orchestra—led by Eimear Heeney and conducted by Kevin O’Carroll. The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace is composed by Karl Jenkins and is a powerful and compelling account of the descent into, and terrible consequences of war. It is a major choral work which uses both sacred and secular texts. The duration is just over an hour.
Home Alone, a firm family Christmas favourite, will be shown on the big screen at SETU Arena on December 10 at 7.30 p.m. The musical score on this festive movie will be performed live by the National Symphony Orchestra. A must-see for fans of Home Alone.
One of the great traditions of Christmas in Waterford is the annual Waterford Lions Club Christmas Appeal. It aims to help 1,200 families have a better Christmas by providing food hampers throughout the city and its environs. Along with a host of events, one of the highlights is the Christmas Concert at the Cathedral of the Most Holy at Barronstrand Street, with orchestra leader Eimear Heeney and conductor Kevin O’Carroll. This free concert will take place on December 16 at 4 p.m.
There will also be lots of live entertainment at Winterval this year. The Winterval Main Stage at Gladstone Street will host 21 days of live free performances from choirs, fun children’s Christmas discos and an array of live musicians.
One of the highlights at this year’s main stage will be a live shadow puppet show from Ben Hennessy. Fiachra and the Winter Elk will be performed each weekend of Winterval from November 25 until December 11 at 6 p.m., 6.40 p.m. and 7.20 p.m.
Bring the kids into Garter Lane to Help Save Santa’s Magic—a live adventure show where the boys and girls in the audience can go on an adventure to help Sam and Ella find Santa’s lost magic red sack.
The evil Jack Frost and his army (well, three anyway) of Frosties have stolen Santa’s bag. Santa has no magic without his special red sack and Christmas will never be the same again! Ella and Sam are having none of it! But they can’t do it alone… Help them out at these one- hour live shows on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 24 to December 10.
At the House of Waterford Crystal on the Mall, a wonderful winter music series is on offer from Saturday, November 25 and will run every Saturday and Sunday until December 23. These free lunchtime recitals will take place in their showroom from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., where festival goers can enjoy some of Waterford’s most talented musicians, surrounded by crystal masterpieces over lunch with friends in the Waterford Café. Or make your afternoon even more special by indulging in a glass of Champagne from the newly-opened Waterford Bar.
