CHRISTMAS CONCERTS
It seems as though there are more each year
It feels as though every year more and more Christmas concerts are added to the calendar.
That’s because people just love them so much.
Both of Jann Arden’s evening Christmas concerts on Dec. 1 and 2 at the Winspear are sold out; there are tickets left for her 2 p.m. matinee; they’re $15 to $79, available from the Winspear website, and disappearing fast.
As for upcoming concerts? Here’s a few:
On Nov. 26 at 3 p.m. Vocal Alchemy will present Rejoice! and their take on John Rutter’s Gloria at McDougall United Church, with Bok Brass and organist Jeremy Spurgeon helping out. Tickets are $15 to $20, available at the door or from Tix on the Square.
There will be plenty of trad carols sung at the Jubilee Auditorium Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. as The Tenors Christmas Together tour comes around. Tickets are $27 to $153, available from Ticketmaster.
On Nov. 30, Tom Jackson is back with his Huron Carole/Christmas 150 Tour at the Edmonton Inn. Concert starts at 6:30 p.m., and tickets are $125, available from the Edmonton Food Bank.
Things really kick into high gear in December:
From Dec. 1 to Dec. 23, the Citadel gets taken over for the yearly production of A Christmas Carol. Tickets start at $30, performances are at 7:30 p.m., with matinees at 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, plus an additional afternoon performance at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22.
The Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton teams up with EKO-Singers and the Mill Creek Colliery Band for a Festive Mosaic at McDougall United Church on Dec .2 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $20 (free for kids under 12), available at the door or by phoning 780-4990422.
Trinity Lutheran Church will host the Concordia Concert Choir for O Joyous Light, with carols from Iceland to the Caribbean, plus plenty of traditional numbers. It takes place at 3 p.m. Dec. 3. Tickets are $15 to $20, available at the door or from Tix on the Square.
Carols from Estonia and Canada, classics by Handel and Whitacre, plus an appearance by the elusive and enigmatic Jason Kodie on accordion makes Chorale Saint-Jean’s performance of O Magnum Mysterium at McDougall United Church a must-see. It takes place at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 3. Tickets available at the door or from Tix on the Square.
Festival Place in Sherwood Park has the Craig Brenan Band performing Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite at Festival Place in Sherwood Park on Dec. 3. Tickets are $31 to $35, available from the Festival Place box office or website.
Also on Dec. 3, the Alberta Baroque Ensemble is back with Music for a Festive Season, bringing in pals like Da Camera Singers and guest vocalists Oliver Munar and Micheal Kurschat for extra musical fun. It takes place at Robertson-Wesley United Church at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 to $30, available at the door or from Tix on the Square.
The University of Alberta Madrigal Singers plus guests for Bach’s Christmas Oratorio perform at the Winspear at 3 p.m. Dec. 3. Tickets are $10 to $20, available at the door (cash only) or from the U of A website.
The Greenwood Singers are at First Presbyterian Church at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 4, for The Many Moods of Christmas. Tickets are $18 to $20, available at the door or from Tix on the Square.
On Dec. 6, the U of A Mixed Chorus is on hand for The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols for Advent and Christmas at the Winspear at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $18, available from the Winspear box office or website.
The McDades Candlelight Christmas runs from Dec. 7 to Dec. 22 at the John Walter Museum. These shows tend to sell out quickly, so snap up the $38 tickets from the City of Edmonton website.
Starting Dec. 7 and ending Dec. 10 is Alberta Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker, over at the Jube. Tickets are $25 to $145, available from Ticketmaster.
Enjoy Christmas Bureau Caroling at the Winspear at noon on Dec. 8. Admission is by donation to the Christmas Bureau.
The Royal Canadian Artillery Band is having a free Christmas celebration at the Winspear at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8.
Kokopelli presents Wintersong at McDougall United at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Dec. 9.
Festival City Winds Music Society brings its Winter Solstice concert to the Robert Tegler Centre at Concordia University of Edmonton at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9. Tickets are $5 to $12, available at the door.
Also on Dec. 9, the Festival of Carols at the Winspear gives you a chance to work out your vocal cords on family favourites. It takes place at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but you’ll need to reserve your seat at the Salvation Army website.
Cantilon Choirs bring Along the Road to Bethlehem to the Winspear at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 10. Tickets are $25 to $30, available at the door or from the Cantilon website.
Pro Coro’s Little Match Girl Passion takes place at Holy Trinity Anglican Church at 7 p.m. Dec. 10. Tickets are $20, available at the door or by calling 780-428-1414.
A free Service of Lessons and Carols takes place at Robertson Wesley United Church at 4 p.m. Dec. 10.
A Joyful Noise Family Christmas is set for Knox Free Evangelical Church at 4 p.m. Dec. 10. Tickets are $25, and available at the door.
Jumping ahead, the 48th Annual Edmonton Singing Christmas Tree takes over the Jubilee Auditorium between Dec. 14 to 17. Tickets are $24 to $85, available from Ticketmaster.
Edmonton Columbian Choirs has its Celebration of Christmas at McDougall United Church at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12. Tickets are $15, available at the door.
Joyful Noise presents All I Want For Christmas at Southminster-Steinhauer United Church at 4 p.m. Dec. 16. Tickets are $20 to $25, available at the door or in advance from Tix on the Square.
The Festival Players are bringing Fiddler on the Roof to Festival Place from Dec. 15 to 30. Tickets are $25 to $40, available at the box office or from the Festival Place website.
Conductor Alexander Prior is back at the Winspear for Handel’s Messiah on Dec. 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. with the ESO, Oran and Kokopelli choirs, plus a host of vocal guests. Tickets are $24 to $75, available from the Winspear box office and website. They’ll be following up with Handel’s Messiah, Favourite Arias, as Prior and company condense Handel’s classic. Tickets are $39 to $49, available from the Winspear box office or website.
From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Dec. 16, is the Candy Cane Family Christmas. Tickets are $17 to $30, also available from the Winspear box office and website.
Festive Brass with the Mill Creek Colliery Band perform at Bethel Lutheran Church in Sherwood Park at 7:30 p.m. Dec 16. Tickets available at the door or through Tix on the Square.
Thursday, Dec. 21 is not only the solstice, it’s the occasion for A Lightly Classical Christmas at the Winspear, with the ESO and guest conductor Robert Bernhardt. Performance is at 8 p.m., tickets are $15 to $82, available from the Winspear box office or website.
Dec. 22 and 23 sees Bernhardt hosting three performances of A Very Merry Christmas, at 8 p.m. both nights, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Dec. 23. Tickets are $15 to $96, available from the Winspear box office or website.
Just slightly past Christmas will be the Shumka Dancers and Clara’s Dream, on Dec. 29 and 30 at the Jubilee Auditorium. Tickets available through Ticketmaster.
Finally, Salute to Vienna is at the Winspear on Dec. 30 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $49.50 to $92.50, available at the door or from the Winspear website.