Tuesday, December 11
Chanticleer
“A Chanticleer Christmas” Something magical always seems to happen at A Chanticleer Christmas. Gregorian chant sets an expectant mood. The room is hushed, the lights are low until the music rings out, “Arise, Shine, Your Light Has Come.” Candles are extinguished and a festive mood ensues. Shepherds compare notes, angels sing on high, a special baby is celebrated, his mother is praised and the whole Earth seems to come to life again. This year’s concerts will combine soaring motets of Palestrina, Corteccia, Sweelinck and Lassus with favorite carols. Jaakko Mäntyjärvi’s holiday story of Stefan the Stable Boy, written for us and first heard two years ago, will return “by popular demand.” A familiar gospel medley from the pen of Joseph Jennings will round out the evening. Of course, what would Christmas be without Biebl’s “Ave Maria”? Most importantly, what would Christmas be without you? When you celebrate this magical season with us, something special really does happen.
8 PM
First Congregational Church
2345 Channing Way, Berkeley
$35–$75
Tickets online
Wednesday, December 12
American Bach Soloists, Jeffrey Thomas, Director
“Messiah At Grace Cathedral” Handel’s timeless masterpiece will be presented for the 21st consecutive year in the awe-inspiring majesty of Grace Cathedral. Perennially a sold-out event, audience members from far and wide attend this Bay Area favorite that features the superb American Bach Choir and the period-instrument specialists of ABS in one of their largest configurations, under the direction of Jeffrey Thomas. Praising his performances of Handel, Opera News wrote “Jeffrey Thomas draws crisp, vital playing from the ace baroque instrumentalists of American Bach Soloists.” An annual holiday tradition, these performances meld together Handel’s glorious music with the serene beauty of one of San Francisco’s greatest architectural treasures. With soloists Mary Wilson, soprano; Eric Jurenas, countertenor; Aaron Sheehan, tenor; and Jesse Blumberg, bass.
7:30 PM
Grace Cathedral
1100 California St., San Francisco
$25–$125
Tickets online
Phone: (800) 595-4TIX (-4849)
Thursday, December 13
American Bach Soloists, Jeffrey Thomas, Director
“Messiah At Grace Cathedral” Handel’s timeless masterpiece will be presented for the 21st consecutive year in the awe-inspiring majesty of Grace Cathedral. Perennially a sold-out event, audience members from far and wide attend this Bay Area favorite that features the superb American Bach Choir and the period-instrument specialists of ABS in one of their largest configurations, under the direction of Jeffrey Thomas. Praising his performances of Handel, Opera News wrote “Jeffrey Thomas draws crisp, vital playing from the ace baroque instrumentalists of American Bach Soloists.” An annual holiday tradition, these performances meld together Handel’s glorious music with the serene beauty of one of San Francisco’s greatest architectural treasures. With soloists Mary Wilson, soprano; Eric Jurenas, countertenor; Aaron Sheehan, tenor; and Jesse Blumberg, bass.
7:30 PM
Grace Cathedral
1100 California St., San Francisco
$25–$125
Tickets online
Phone: (800) 595-4TIX (-4849)
Friday, December 14
American Bach Soloists, Jeffrey Thomas, Director
“Messiah At Grace Cathedral” Handel’s timeless masterpiece will be presented for the 21st consecutive year in the awe-inspiring majesty of Grace Cathedral. Perennially a sold-out event, audience members from far and wide attend this Bay Area favorite that features the superb American Bach Choir and the period-instrument specialists of ABS in one of their largest configurations, under the direction of Jeffrey Thomas. Praising his performances of Handel, Opera News wrote “Jeffrey Thomas draws crisp, vital playing from the ace baroque instrumentalists of American Bach Soloists.” An annual holiday tradition, these performances meld together Handel’s glorious music with the serene beauty of one of San Francisco’s greatest architectural treasures. With soloists Mary Wilson, soprano; Eric Jurenas, countertenor; Aaron Sheehan, tenor; and Jesse Blumberg, bass.
7:30 PM
Grace Cathedral
1100 California St., San Francisco
$25–$125
Tickets online
Phone: (800) 595-4TIX (-4849)
Chanticleer
“A Chanticleer Christmas” Something magical always seems to happen at A Chanticleer Christmas. Gregorian chant sets an expectant mood. The room is hushed, the lights are low until the music rings out, “Arise, Shine, Your Light Has Come.” Candles are extinguished and a festive mood ensues. Shepherds compare notes, angels sing on high, a special baby is celebrated, his mother is praised and the whole Earth seems to come to life again. This year’s concerts will combine soaring motets of Palestrina, Corteccia, Sweelinck and Lassus with favorite carols. Jaakko Mäntyjärvi’s holiday story of Stefan the Stable Boy, written for us and first heard two years ago, will return “by popular demand.” A familiar gospel medley from the pen of Joseph Jennings will round out the evening. Of course, what would Christmas be without Biebl’s “Ave Maria”? Most importantly, what would Christmas be without you? When you celebrate this magical season with us, something special really does happen.
6 PM and 8:30 PM performances
St. Vincent’s Church
35 Liberty St., Petaluma
$35–$75
Tickets online 6 PM
Tickets online 8:30 PM
The 33rd Annual Christmas Revels
“Ancient Mysteries of Andalusian Spain” Our Revels story begins in 1600 in that part of Spain called Andalusia. Three individuals—a young Moorish woman, a Sephardic Jew, and a Castilian scullery maid—happen to meet, each armed with a mysterious clue that is guiding them on a quest. They are all hoping to find their way back through time to the era of La Convivencia, a time when, as they understand it, all three cultures—Muslim, Jewish, and Christian—lived in a spirit of tolerance and peace. Directed to pay attention to the celestial bodies, and swept up in the Revels celebration of the Solstice, they learn how each culture celebrates the Sun, the Moon, and the stars in song, dance, poetry and story. By looking to the heavens, they learn the secret of finding the Convivencia. They come to realize that despite the things that make each of us different and unique, in the end, we all live under the same sky.
8 PM
Scottish Rite Theater
1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland
Tickets online $10–$65
[email protected]
Saturday, December 15
Chanticleer
“A Chanticleer Christmas” Something magical always seems to happen at A Chanticleer Christmas. Gregorian chant sets an expectant mood. The room is hushed, the lights are low until the music rings out, “Arise, Shine, Your Light Has Come.” Candles are extinguished and a festive mood ensues. Shepherds compare notes, angels sing on high, a special baby is celebrated, his mother is praised and the whole Earth seems to come to life again. This year’s concerts will combine soaring motets of Palestrina, Corteccia, Sweelinck and Lassus with favorite carols. Jaakko Mäntyjärvi’s holiday story of Stefan the Stable Boy, written for us and first heard two years ago, will return “by popular demand.” A familiar gospel medley from the pen of Joseph Jennings will round out the evening. Of course, what would Christmas be without Biebl’s “Ave Maria”? Most importantly, what would Christmas be without you? When you celebrate this magical season with us, something special really does happen.
8 PM
St. Ignatius Church
650 Parker Street, San Francisco
$35–$75
Tickets online
The 33rd Annual Christmas Revels
“Ancient Mysteries of Andalusian Spain” Our Revels story begins in 1600 in that part of Spain called Andalusia. Three individuals—a young Moorish woman, a Sephardic Jew, and a Castilian scullery maid—happen to meet, each armed with a mysterious clue that is guiding them on a quest. They are all hoping to find their way back through time to the era of La Convivencia, a time when, as they understand it, all three cultures—Muslim, Jewish, and Christian—lived in a spirit of tolerance and peace. Directed to pay attention to the celestial bodies, and swept up in the Revels celebration of the Solstice, they learn how each culture celebrates the Sun, the Moon, and the stars in song, dance, poetry and story. By looking to the heavens, they learn the secret of finding the Convivencia. They come to realize that despite the things that make each of us different and unique, in the end, we all live under the same sky.
1 PM and 5 PM performances
Scottish Rite Theater
1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland
Tickets online $10–$65
[email protected]
San Francisco Renaissance Voices
“La Pastorela” (The Shepherd’s Tale), featuring Cristobal Morales (ca. 1500–1533) Missa Queramus cum pastoribus (Mass of the Quaking Shepherds). San Francisco Renaissance Voices, under the direction of guest conductor Don Scott Carpenter, present a special holiday performance in the form of a Mexican Pastorela, the retelling of the nativity story from the perspective of the shepherds who were the first to see the Christ child. A traditional fight, often somewhat humorous, between good and evil features audience favorite, Phantom of the Opera’s soprano Susan Gundunas as the Archangel Michael with local actor Joseph Schmitz as the Devil. Our singers will perform Cristóbal de Morales’ (ca. 1500–1533) heavenly Missa Queramus cum pastoribus (Mass of the Quaking Shepherds). These performances are expected to sell out so ticket pre-purchase is highly recommended!
7:30 PM
Hillside Club
2286 Cedar Street, Berkeley
Tickets online $20/$25/$30
Sunday, December 16
Chanticleer
“A Chanticleer Christmas” Something magical always seems to happen at A Chanticleer Christmas. Gregorian chant sets an expectant mood. The room is hushed, the lights are low until the music rings out, “Arise, Shine, Your Light Has Come.” Candles are extinguished and a festive mood ensues. Shepherds compare notes, angels sing on high, a special baby is celebrated, his mother is praised and the whole Earth seems to come to life again. This year’s concerts will combine soaring motets of Palestrina, Corteccia, Sweelinck and Lassus with favorite carols. Jaakko Mäntyjärvi’s holiday story of Stefan the Stable Boy, written for us and first heard two years ago, will return “by popular demand.” A familiar gospel medley from the pen of Joseph Jennings will round out the evening. Of course, what would Christmas be without Biebl’s “Ave Maria”? Most importantly, what would Christmas be without you? When you celebrate this magical season with us, something special really does happen.
6 PM
Cathedral of Christ the Light
2121 Harrison Street, Oakland
$35–$75
Tickets online
The 33rd Annual Christmas Revels
“Ancient Mysteries of Andalusian Spain” Our Revels story begins in 1600 in that part of Spain called Andalusia. Three individuals—a young Moorish woman, a Sephardic Jew, and a Castilian scullery maid—happen to meet, each armed with a mysterious clue that is guiding them on a quest. They are all hoping to find their way back through time to the era of La Convivencia, a time when, as they understand it, all three cultures—Muslim, Jewish, and Christian—lived in a spirit of tolerance and peace. Directed to pay attention to the celestial bodies, and swept up in the Revels celebration of the Solstice, they learn how each culture celebrates the Sun, the Moon, and the stars in song, dance, poetry and story. By looking to the heavens, they learn the secret of finding the Convivencia. They come to realize that despite the things that make each of us different and unique, in the end, we all live under the same sky.
1 PM and 5 PM performances
Scottish Rite Theater
1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland
Tickets online $10–$65
[email protected]
San Francisco Renaissance Voices
“La Pastorela” (The Shepherd’s Tale), featuring Cristobal Morales (ca. 1500–1533) Missa Queramus cum pastoribus (Mass of the Quaking Shepherds). San Francisco Renaissance Voices, under the direction of guest conductor Don Scott Carpenter, present a special holiday performance in the form of a Mexican Pastorela, the retelling of the nativity story from the perspective of the shepherds who were the first to see the Christ child. A traditional fight, often somewhat humorous, between good and evil features audience favorite, Phantom of the Opera’s soprano Susan Gundunas as the Archangel Michael with local actor Joseph Schmitz as the Devil. Our singers will perform Cristóbal de Morales’ (ca. 1500–1533) heavenly Missa Queramus cum pastoribus (Mass of the Quaking Shepherds). These performances are expected to sell out so ticket pre-purchase is highly recommended!
8 PM
Episcopal Church of the Incarnation
1750 29th Avenue, San Francisco
Tickets online $20/$25/$30
Continue reading next week’s calendar . . .
