Christmas sounds breaking out around Perth, from Handel to Piaf with carols aplenty and Santa all over

It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas, with carols in the malls, fairy lights on the streets and Santa out and about across Perth. The man in red peaked early at Lakeside Joondalup Shopping City this year, his annual parade on November 2 barely leaving time to take down the Halloween decorations. Even St George’s Cathedral has done its dash, with a feast of Advent and Christmas music in mid-November featuring the Cathedral Consort and WA Symphony Orchestra Brass Octet. Advent, the solemn church festival of contemplation before Christmas, runs until December 24. But that’s no bar to the Alinta Energy Christmas Pageant, with 76 floats, bands and dancing groups flooding the Terrace from 7.30pm on December 7, with Santa’s sleigh the last cab off the rank. In a quieter corner, WASO’s Carols in the Park gets under way in Claremont at the same time, the first of three free programs under the baton of associate conductor Jen Winley. It’s Winley’s third carols concert at Claremont Park, and her third Lotterywest Christmas Spectacular comes the following weekend on December 14 at RAC Arena, from 2pm and 7pm. It will also be WASO’s first time staging Santa’s Symphony in the Park at Burswood Park on December 21, bringing the Arena program to the great outdoors from 4pm, with the main show at 7pm. “There’s a certain style when it comes to Christmas music,” Winley says. “So I think the way to keep it fresh for us is to really remember who our audience is, and that this is a really special, magical experience, especially for kids, and a nostalgic experience for parents who are bringing their children. “Also by engaging new soloists, the guest musicians, and really exploring the wealth of talent that we’ve got in Australia, because they all bring their own personality and excitement to the concerts. “And of course we’re always pushing the boundaries with all the production effects and lighting.” Winley is careful not to spoil the novelty, but hints at some surprises. “Really for us it’s the attitude even more so than the content, and also bringing in some Noongar language to some of our repertoire and trying to build that Australian connection,” she says. Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse were standouts at last year’s Christmas Spectacular with a Noongar language version of Silent Night. “Everyone had their phones lights out and it was it was quite overwhelming (and) powerful, actually,” Winley says. “And that’s testament not only to bringing Noongar language into classical music performances, but just Gina and Guy themselves. They’re such authentic, beautiful humans, and I’m so glad we’re doing another special work with them.” Also this week, Ellington Jazz Club begins a festive run through to Christmas Eve, with chanteuse Etta D’Elia channelling Eartha Kitt to bring Santa Baby to life on December 8. That’s followed by a Burt Bacharach seasonal special with Perth divas Ali Bodycoat and Libby Hammer from December 9-11; Christmas in the Key of Soul with Sophie Foster and Jordan Anthony on December 12; and a Perth Cabaret Collective Christmas Extravaganza on December 15. Bodycoat is back at the Ellington with a Ladies of Jazz gala on December 16 and 17. There’s a Christmas Blues night on December 18, Christmas Crooney Tunes on December 19, Christmas brass and Jayda D’Agostino on December 20, Funk Republic on December 21, and Hammer’s own series running from December 21-24. Classical music lovers will farewell Perth Concert Hall on December 14 with Handel’s Messiah presented by Perth Symphonic Chorus and Perth Baroque Orchestra, in the last performance at the hall before several years of renovations. Conductor James Pratt, soloists Sara Macliver, Margaret Trubiano, Benjamin Rasheed and Robert Hofmann will continue a three-decade run of this 18th-century masterpiece — a tradition that even COVID couldn’t cancel. Next door, Government House throws open its doors the same weekend, December 14 and 15, from 3pm to 7pm, with access all areas and the chance to sing along to carols with a picnic in the gardens. Seven sleeps out from the Big Day, the Giovanni Consort singers present “a dazzling selection of pieces inspired by the themes of Christmas, Yuletide and the Australian summer” on December 18 at St Mary’s, South Perth, from 6pm and 8pm. Same church, next day, Christmas with HIP Company combines historically informed performance and festive themes, with “hidden gems and well-loved favourites”. HIP Company originals Bonnie de la Hunty (soprano), Sarah Papadopoulos (violin) and Krista Low (cello) are joined by tenor Jason Kroll, violinist Eliza McCracken and harpsichord whiz Stewart Smith from 7.30pm on December 19. Same day, different suburb, Freeze Frame Opera launch their annual Christmas at the Quarry picnic series with three nights of operatic and Christmas perennials running from December 19-21 at the Quarry Amphitheatre at Bold Park in City Beach. Gates open at 6pm with the main show at 7pm. Sara Macliver joins the stars of FFO’s recent hit production of Don Giovanni — Rachelle Durkin, Emma Pettemerides, Hattie Marshall, Robert Hofmann, Kohsei Gilkes and Penny Shaw — with emerging artists Vin Trikerotis, Michelle Pryor, Bonnie Staude and Devon Lake. BYO hamper and blanket or low chairs. Spare a thought also for Voyces choral ensemble with Christmas at St Joseph’s, Subiaco, on Friday, December 20 from 7.30pm. This innovative group promises highlights including Gabriel’s Message by Jim Clements, Lo! He Slumbers in His Manger by Cecilia McDowall, the Carol of the Bells, Lux Aurumque by Eric Whitacre, Veni, Gaudete! by Adrian Peacock, and an in-house arrangement of O Little Town of Bethlehem. And when the last prawn and mince pie are gone, say hello to 2025 with the Vienna Pops Orchestra in a New Year’s Eve gala, now at UWA’s Winthrop Hall. Singers Jessica Blunt and Caitlin Cassidy join maestro Mark Coughlan and teen violin sensation Ellie Malonzo for festive favourites from Strauss to Piaf, with Rossini and Puccini for dessert. Presented by Rotary Perth, this traditional highlight offers an afternoon matinee at 2pm and evening gala from 9.30pm. Or for a more intimate ambience, Ellington welcomes singer Jessie Gordon for three sets from 8pm on December 31 counting down to the witching hour.