Christmas with Cantaré
Even though Christmas is only a few days away, it’s still not too late to catch a Christmas concert or two, to get in the holiday frame of mind.
The Cantaré Children’s Choir hosts its annual Christmas concert this weekend. Yet there won’t just be celebrating Christmas.
The choir will also perform several pieces — some in Hebrew — in honour of Hanukkah, keeping in touch with the choir’s mandate to explore world music and perform in several languages.
In fact, the word “Cantaré” is Spanish and means “I will sing.”
Cantaré artistic director Catherine Glaser–Climie founded the choir in 1997 to provide young singers an opportunity to explore classical and contemporary repertoire and become “complete” musicians, able to read and understand choral music.
This weekend’s Celebrate the Seasons begins with a piece called O Beautiful Yuletide, which choir members will sing while sprinkled throughout the audience in a darkened church. Only the candles in their hands will illuminate the space.
A variety of Christmas and Hanukkah music will follow in the 90-minute program.
“I love the contrast of the crisp winter outside the church with the warmth of the angelic voices inside,” says Glaser–Climie.
Celebrate the Seasons takes place Saturday, Dec. 22 at Knox United Church (506 4th St. S.W.).
Tickets and information: cantarechildrenschoir.org or 403685-1132.
Sing Along Messiah — Voice Scapes
Even those of us who are not classical music aficionados are probably at least somewhat familiar with George Handel’s Messiah.
Handel wrote his famous religious oratorio in 1741. It has since become one of the pieces most oft performed over the holidays.
For the 11th consecutive year, Voice Scapes, a professional fourmember music collective with an interest in early music, is hosting a public singalong of the Messiah this Sunday.
The annual event is always a “joyous, festive, uplifting experience,” says VoiceScapes artistic director Christina Jahn.
“Sitting in the middle of Knox United Church with 400 voices raised together around you is the quite the experience.”
For those who can sing, VoiceScapes rents out scores, and the proceeds from these rentals go to the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank.
The Messiah is arranged in three parts. The first is the Christmas story, and VoiceScapes — along with the audience — will perform that section in its entirety.
Only portions of the Messiah’s Parts Two and Three will be performed.
The William Aberhart Concert Choir, along with several emerging soloists, will join VoiceScapes on stage.
Four string instruments, two trumpets and an organ will accompany the performance.
The Sing Along Messiah takes place Sunday, Dec. 23 at Knox United Church.
Tickets and information: voicescapes.ca or 403-208-6094.