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King's College Carols: A 70-Year Christmas Tradition
17 Dec
Summary
- The King's College service began as a 1918 festival.
- It first aired on radio in 1928 and TV in 1954.
- The choir consists of boys aged 9-13 and male students.
The tradition of Christmas carols from King's College, Cambridge, has captivated audiences for over seven decades. What began as a "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" in 1918 evolved into a global phenomenon with its first radio broadcast in 1928 and television debut in 1954. The magnificent Gothic chapel serves as the backdrop for the King's College Choir, a venerable institution founded in 1441, composed of boys aged nine to 13 and male university students.
The service's profound impact stems from its ability to convey majesty and intimacy, especially through television broadcasts that began in the 1960s with the addition of the Rubens altarpiece. The Dean of King's emphasizes its endurance due to the beauty and closeness it offers. While the radio broadcast is live on Christmas Eve, the TV version is pre-recorded, allowing for creative programming and a visually stunning experience.
