Record-Breaking Ryedale Festival Announces New Christmas By Candlelight Concerts

Following a record-breaking summer, Ryedale Festival has announced two special Christmas concerts by candlelight, bringing Royal Northern Sinfonia and acclaimed vocal ensemble APOLLO5 to North Yorkshire this December.

The announcement follows the Festival’s most successful year to date, with nearly 11,000 tickets sold, almost 10% more than the previous year. This summer alone saw 62 events across 41 venues, including nine used by the Festival for the first time, with hundreds of people attending the Festival for the first time.

The new Christmas by Candlelight concerts build on that momentum, bringing audiences together for two atmospheric winter evenings in Norton and Easingwold on 2 and 7 December.

RNS with Dinis Sousa 2026 Photo: Tynesight Photographic©

Maria Włoszczowska

On Wednesday 2 December, Royal Northern Sinfonia, led by violinist Maria Włoszczowska, comes to St Peter’s Church, Norton for a journey through the music and landscapes of northern Europe.

The programme travels from the atmospheric music of Sibelius to Grieg’s much-loved Peer Gynt, alongside Scandinavian folk melodies. Heard in the flicker of candlelight, the concert evokes northern landscapes and the warmth of folk traditions, with warming glögg and traditional Swedish pepparkakor available in the interval.

Then on Monday 7 December, APOLLO5 brings Christmas Lights to the Church of St John the Baptist and All Saints, Easingwold. One of Britain’s leading vocal ensembles, the five singers are known for programmes that move easily between Renaissance music and contemporary close harmony.

Their Christmas programme spans five centuries, from Byrd and Poulenc to John Rutter and Coldplay, with music including Warlock’s Bethlehem Down, Elizabeth Poston’s Jesus Christ the Apple Tree and Carol of the Bells. Mulled wine and mince pies will be available in the interval.

A huge thank you to everyone who came, supported us and made the Summer Festival such a success. It was a special fortnight, with terrific audiences, unforgettable performances and a wonderful atmosphere wherever we went.

We wanted to build on that with something special for Christmas. There’s something magical about coming in from the dark on a winter evening and hearing great music in a beautiful church by candlelight. These two concerts are very different, but both should have a wonderful sense of warmth, celebration and occasion.Artistic Director Christopher Glynn

The concerts follow a summer in which the Festival welcomed audiences in record numbers for a programme spanning major orchestral concerts, chamber music, new commissions and opportunities for emerging artists and local young people. Tickets for Christmas by Candlelight are on sale now at ryedalefestival.com