EACH year, tenor Orville Manning marks the Yuletide season with his concert, ‘Christmas Festival of Joy’, at the Methodist Church in Spanish Town.

The latest renewal took place last Sunday and was a wonderful potpourri of genres, talent, and artistry.

There was an outstanding performance from the Nexus Performing Arts Company led by Hugh Douse; soloist Danielle Watson, pianist Yanique Leiba-Ebanks and organist Trevor Beckford.

The ensemble performed I Am, O Fortuna as well as Shepherds and Gloria on which Douse featured. They concluded the first segment with Manning’s fine delivery of The Birthday of A King and The Lord’s Prayer.

After a 10-minute intermission, the concert resumed with a tribute to South African icon Nelson Mandela, who died December 7. The ‘Chorus’ performed two South African numbers, Itchowadi and Waka Waka.

From there, things got even richer with the group outdoing itself with the Michael McDonald/Aretha Franklin hit, Ever Changing Times, O What A Beautiful City — on which Watson was flawless — followed by Carol of The Bells.

Manning closed the occasion on a high note, performing Jehovah Hallelujah, The Magnificat, Jamaica Noel, Jesus Is Born and O Holy Night.

— Basil Walters