HOLIDAY HOUSE TOURS
For the first time in 24 years, the Bethlehem Garden Club is presenting a holiday house tour 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 9. It's called an “Artful Christmas House Tour” because of its focus on the decorative — fine art, photography, table settings, trees and more. Six homes and the Kemerer Museum will be featured with the hope of inspiring you to have an artful holiday. Info: bethlehemgardenclub.org
The Governor Wolf Historical Society presents its 38th annual Christmas House Tour 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 1. Ten homes and historic structures in Bath will be decorated for the holidays. There's a fee for the tour, but it is part of a free Holiday History Family Day, which includes 1700s and 1800s antique lighting exhibit, kids activities, hearth cooking, Colonial Craftsmen, Civil War re-enactors, crafts, food and a fresh wreath and swag sale. Info: govwolf.org. Dec. 9 at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem.
The choir, led by Greg Funfgeld, members of the Bach Festival Orchestra and and soloists, will present a program that includes Bach Cantatas BWV 36 and 63 and the rarely heard “Laud to the Nativity” from late-romantic Italian composer Respighi. The repertoire takes the audience on a Christmas journey, from the joyful, almost whimsical expectation of the Advent season to the Nativity story from Respighi to some of Bach's most celebratory and cosmic writing in Cantata 63. The concert concludes with the audience joining the choir for some carols, including the warm and evocative “Silent Night,” sung in German and English.
Soloists include Ellen McAteer and Fiona Gillespie, soprano; Daniel Taylor, countertenor; Charles Blandy, tenor, and Christopheren Nomura, baritone. Info: bach.org.
The Camerata Singers, celebrating its 46th year, will present its biennial concert of the complete Handel's Messiah at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at First Presbyterian Church of Allentown. The singers will be accompanied by professional soloists and the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra in the timeless masterpiece. Info: pasinfonia.org.
jodi.duckett@mcall.com 610-820-6704