Scarlet & Gold at Christmas

The Royal Corps of Army Musicians are some of the UK's finest and showcased their musical genius at Fairfield Hall, Croydon on 19 December in 'Scarlet and Gold at Christmas', a stirring Military Musical Spectacular festive concert that raised the rafters.

There are few more iconic images of the United Kingdom than the sight and sound of the Massed Bands of the Guards, adorned in uniforms of scarlet and gold with their black bearskin caps. They are at the very heart of the nation’s great ceremonial occasions such as Trooping the Colour and the Changing of the Guard both at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. The Scarlet and Gold at Christmas concert presents a very rare opportunity to hear all six Household Division bands playing together with the Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra on the concert platform.

The programme covered a diverse range of sensational music, old and new, upbeat and reflective, to suit all tastes, all presented as a spectacle of sound and colour. Featured in the programme was Christmas through the Ages: from Carols to the Nutcracker; Christmas film favourites from the Wizard of Oz to Wicked!; and then the Guards’ Big Band playing seasonal classics, from Deck the halls to Sleigh Ride.

Our musicians are men and women of many talents, and this year were joined by West End star Lucie Jones as their star guest performer. Lucie sang ‘She used to be mine’, Defying Gravity’, ‘Man with a Bag’ and ‘All I want for Christmas is you’.

Also taking part this year was Chelsea Pensioner and Britain’s Got Talent favourite, Colin Thackery who sand ‘Silent Night’.

The Guards’ Specialist Contemporary Band (Blue Red Blue) then performed an unforgettable version of ‘Wonderwall’ before the concert finale of ‘Frosty the Snowman’, ‘Joy to the World,’ and ‘Merry Christmas Everybody’.

©MoD Crown Copyright 2024
Created by: Donald C Todd
Music by: The Bands of the Household Division.