John Eliot Gardiner and the Monteverdi ensembles to perform Berlioz’s L’enfance du Christ at Ely Cathedral

John Eliot Gardiner returns to Ely Cathedral on Friday, December 10, with his world-renowned Monteverdi ensembles for the first time in over 20 years to perform Berlioz’s L’enfance du Christ.

In the midst of a tour that visits Zürich, London and Barcelona, the Monteverdi Choir, Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique and John Eliot Gardiner bring Berlioz’s festive oratorio to Ely’s awe-inspiring cathedral for an evening of historically-inspired music performance.

An outstanding cast of international soloists joins the Monteverdi ensembles to showcase Berlioz’s L’enfance du Christ, which tells the story of the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt after the birth of Jesus. The celebrated tenor Michael Spyres sings the role of Narrator, with Swedish mezzo-soprano Ann Hallenberg and Belgian baritone Lionel Lhote performing the roles of Mary and Joseph respectively.

“Possibly more often than any other composer, Berlioz can come up with a melodic strain or a turn of phrase so poignant that it catches you by the throat. In that moment he persuades you that there is no other way to express such depths of emotion.”

John Eliot Gardiner says of the work: “L’Enfance is a work I have come to love and cherish. Although not designed to be staged in a theatre, it is brim-full of drama. It seems to work its particular magic in all these contrasted settings thanks to Berlioz’s ability to visualise the events of the Christmas story afresh, and to delineate the separate characters so vividly and sympathetically.”

With Berlioz’s composition being brought to life by such exceptional musicians, this promises to be a mesmerising evening of music-making in the magnificent setting of Ely Cathedral.

Book tickets now via the Ely Cathedral website, or call 01353 660349. Tickets £15, £30, £45.