It’s pretty much a regional tradition that after mid-November, choirs pop out of the woodwork for a series of Christmas or holiday concerts.
Right at the head of the pack is Edmonton Metropolitan’s 100-odd voices with Sing Spirit: The Heart of Handel on Sunday, Nov. 20 at First Presbyterian Church.
In this all-Handel concert, music director David Garber structures a program of choruses and arias ranging from Solomon, Rinaldo and Alexander’s Feast to Xerxes, Messiah, and Chandos Anthem No. 9.
Guest artists include Vaughan String Quartet, double bassist Jeff Johnson, organist Jeremy Spurgeon, trumpeter Wendy Grasdahl as well as soprano Janet Smith and alto Mireille Rijavec.
The one-hour concert starts at 3 p.m. Advance tickets are adults $15, students/seniors $10 and children under 12, $5. Door tickets are $20/$15/$10.
Also on Sunday, Nov. 20 Chronos Vocal Ensemble performs its season launch, Bach and Forth, at All Saints Anglican Cathedral.
Artistic director Jordan Van Biert was heavily influenced by the German composer’s a cappella music during his tenure studying for a master’s degree.
For this concert, the award-winning choir will work its way though Bach’s six major motets as well as touching on a cappella works from Brahms, Bruckner, Mendelssohn, Reager, Mahler and diverse 19th century composers.
The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $20/$15 at 780-420-1757 or online at tixonthesquare.ca or $23/$18 at the door.
Next Saturday, Nov. 26 the Te Deum Singers are presenting a Christmas concert of sacred music at Lendrum Mennonite Brethren Church.
Music director Diana Wiens has fashioned the Christmas story with selections from Rutter, Britten and Tchaikovsky.
The event starts at 7 p.m. and is free, however the choir accepts free will offerings.
Just a day later on Sunday, Nov. 27, Pro Coro Canada’s Male Voices Choir will spin beautiful music along with Cantilon’s new young men’s choir Vox Hominis in a concert titled Stayin’ Alive.
The first half features music from Canadian composers Cecilia Livingston and John Hooper. The light-hearted second half flashes forward to the popular songs of the ’70s.
The performance starts at 2:30 p.m. at All Saints Anglican Church. Admission is $30 and $25 for students/seniors. Tickets are available at the door or 780-428-1414.
