St Thomas’s Church was transformed into a Venetian Basilica for the Winchelsea Arts Christmas Concert – Un Natale Veneziano, featuring Ensemble OrQuesta Baroque directed by Marcio da Silva. 

There was standing room only for this special concert which celebrated the Italian tradition during the nine days before Christmas, originating in folk music, where peasants playing musical instruments would go from town to town re-enacting the shepherds’ adoration of the Christ-child.

This was transformed into the high art pastorale and was subsequently incorporated into the concerto form making it a celebration of the nativity.

The ensemble delighted the audience with a selection of Christmas concerti including those by Torelli, Corelli and Valentini as well as Winter from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi.

For information on future concerts go to winchelsea-arts.org.uk