Since it first raised the festive roof in 2008, Nigel Hess’ seasonal favourite A Christmas Overture has received over five hundred performances in its orchestral guise, passing the milestone in 2025. The 8-minute orchestral overture, commissioned and premiered by Sir John Rutter, makes 35 international outings in December 2025, including its Japanese debut from the New Japan Philharmonic at Suntory Hall, and performances from the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Hallé Orchestra in Manchester and Nottingham, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Cadogan Hall, and Norrköpings Symfoniorkester in Sweden.
Hess' exuberant orchestral medley has previously received performances from the New York Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Bremer Philharmoniker, and Aalborg Symphony Orchestra – as well as dozens of community and amateur ensembles the world over. The piece also now exists in popular versions for brass band, and wind band, with the latter recorded for the Chandos release “New London Pictures”, performed by The Central Band of the Royal Air Force under the composer’s baton. On a more intimate scale, Hess' piano album Silent Nights - published by Faber Music - has also set the yuletide mood on the UK's Classic FM radio station with its arrangements of traditional carols.
Just as ebullient a concert opener as A Christmas Overture is Hess’ perennial A Celebration Overture. Commissioned to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, it premiered with chief conductor Vasily Petrenko as part of Classic FM Live at London’s Royal Albert Hall in September 2022; it was recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Richard Balcombe.
The 6-minute piece is thoroughgoing in its response to the RLPO’s request for “some good tunes”. The horn section is the first to introduce the "celebration" tune, immediately picked up by the rest of the orchestra; the party atmosphere redoubles when the percussion join in with bongos and cabasa. Woodwind and solo strings introduce another optimistic theme which the brass section try to commandeer as their own. A solo oboe then introduces a more plaintive and thoughtful melody, picked up by a flute and violin, before the horns invite us back to the celebrations and a breathless finale.