Holiday concerts run gamut from classical to heavy metal
Whether your idea of celebrating the holidays involves classical music by candlelight or frolicking with friends in the mosh pit, there’s no shortage of Christmas concerts in the city. Here are some highlights.
HALLELUJAH — A MESSIAH FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
7:30 p.m. Nov. 30, St. Francis of Assisi, 20 Fairmont Ave.
The Ottawa Choral Society invites you to hear a gender-bending version of Handel’s oratorio that flips the male and female parts. Vocalists include tenor Antonio Figueroa, soprano Nathalie Paulin, basso Geoffrey Sirett and Ottawa’s mezzo daughter, Wallis Giunta. Ottawachoralsociety.com.
A QUARTETTE CHRISTMAS
7:30 p.m. Dec. 2, Shenkman Arts Centre, Orléans
Hear traditional carols and original songs enhanced by the lush harmonies of the Canadian folk supergroup of Cindy Church, Caitlin Hanford, Gwen Swick and Sylvia Tyson. shenkmanarts.ca
THIRTEEN STRINGS’ CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHT CONCERT
7:30 p.m. Dec. 3, Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, 355 Cooper St.
Ottawa’s chamber orchestra performs a program of Corelli, Scarlatti and Vivaldi, along with the Canadian debut of a new work by John Armstrong. Also featured are the Thirteen Strings Chamber Choir, soprano Hélène Brunet and mezzo soprano Vicky St. Pierre. Donations for the Centretown Emergency Food Centre welcome. thirteenstrings.ca.
TALES OF A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS
7 p.m. Dec. 5, Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, 355 Cooper St.
Jerry Granelli, the original drummer on A Charlie Brown Christmas, revisits the classic 1965 jazz Christmas album, accompanied by Simon Fisk on bass and Chris Gestrin on piano, and Ottawa’s The Cross Town Youth Chorus. Ottawajazzfestival.com
SÉAN McCANN’S GREAT BIG CHRISTMAS PARTY
7-9 p.m. Dec. 7, Algonquin Commons Theatre, 1385 Woodroffe Ave.
The former Great Big Sea member will be joined by some of Ottawa’s finest musicians, including fiddler Anna Ludlow, pianist/percussionist Marianne Dumas and Peptides’ singers DeeDee Butters and Rebecca Noelle, in a fundraiser for the Queensway Carleton Hospital’s Hopes Rising campaign. eventbrite.ca
KRISTINE AND JUSTIN: CHRISTMAS SHOW
7 p.m. Dec. 14, la Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins, 333 King Edward Ave.
Two French-Canadian singer-songwriters, Ottawa’s Kristine St-Pierre and Winnipegger Justin Lacroix, celebrate the release of Noel Avec Toi, their first French-language Christmas album as a duo. kristinestpierre.com
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Various times, Dec. 15-22, The Gladstone, 910 Gladstone Ave.
Veteran Ottawa actor John D. Huston is renowned for his oneman version of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. See it again, with musical guests, including Fiddlehead Soup (Dec. 15 and 22), Susan Toman (Dec. 16-17) and Finest Kind (Dec. 18-20). thegladstone.ca
CHRISTMAS CARAVAN WITH SULTANS OF STRING
8 p.m. Dec. 19, Shenkman Arts Centre, Orléans
The Toronto-based group led by Ottawa-born violinist Chris McKhool presents holiday songs from around the world, with a coterie of Ottawa talent, including Rebecca Campbell, Lynn Miles, Kellylee Evans, Kristine St-Pierre and Twin Flames. shenkmanarts.ca.
LYNN MILES WITH THE CRUSTY MITTENS STRINGS
8 p.m. Dec. 20-21 and 3 p.m. Dec. 22, Irene’s Pub, 885 Bank St.
Dig out your best Christmas sweater for the Ottawa singer-songwriter’s annual winter concert with the Crusty Mittens string section. Irenespub.ca
WE WISH YOU A METAL CHRISTMAS
7 p.m. Dec. 20, Mavericks, 221 Rideau St.
Have a headbanging festive season with five heavy bands (Worthless Agony, Northgang, Held in Secret, Sinful Ways and Gland) at an all-ages show, complete with an egg nog chugging contest. Admission free with three non-perishable food items.
lsaxberg@postmedia.com