King’s Nine Lesson and Carols Will Be Pre-recorded.

2020 continues to take its toll.  Now that toll includes the Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College, at least a live version.  From King’s:

…For safety reasons it had previously been decided that no congregation could be present this year. In the face of Covid-19, King’s also decided to make a recording of the service a few weeks before Christmas as an additional precaution. In the light of current conditions, it is this recording of 2020’s A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols that will be broadcast at the usual time on 24 December.

Given all the lockdowns now around London, the decision is understandable, perhaps inevitable.  And King’s College is to be praised for their foresight in pre-recording a service just in case.

Still Christmas Eve this year will not quite be the same.

For those wondering, the broadcast schedule should remain the same:

The scheduling information for A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols will remain the same, with the service broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Service on 24 December at 3pm (10:00 EST or 07:00 PST). The service is also broadcast at 1pm on Radio 3 on Christmas Day, and at various times on the BBC World Service. In the United States the service is distributed by American Public Media and is broadcast by around 450 radio stations, including Minnesota Public Radio and WQXR in New York.

Additional information, including the Order of Service may be found here.

One has to have sympathy for Director of Music Daniel Hyde.  Now into his second year, he has yet to have a live Nine Lessons and Carols without difficulty.  Last year was at the end of his first Michaelmas Term and in the shadow of Stephen Cleobury.  It takes time for a new director and choir to work seamlessly together.  Last year’s service seemed to show that at times although it was excellent overall.  Then in a dark Lent Term came the COVID.  And now the live service is cancelled.  Like much of the UK, the man cannot seem to get a break.