Tuesday, December 18
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
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
1017 Eleventh Street, Sacramento,
$35–$75
Tickets online
Thursday, December 20
Voices of Music
“Virtuoso Baroque Concertos” Celebrate the holidays with a festive evening of baroque trumpet and violin concertos. Featuring Dominic Favia, Lisa Grodin, Katherine Heater, Kati Kyme, Augusta McKay Lodge, Carla Moore, Farley Pearce, Hanneke van Proosdij, David Tayler, Tanya Tomkins, William Skeen, Amy Wang, Gabrielle Wunsch, and Alana Youssefian.
8 PM
Tateuchi Hall, Community School of Music and Arts
230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View
$47 Adult, $42 Senior/SFEMS/EMA/ARS. Full-time student: $5
Tickets online
Friday, December 21
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
Carmel Mission
3080 Rio Road
Carmel-by-the-Sea
$64–$75
Tickets online 6 PM
Tickets online 8:30 PM
Saturday, December 22
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
Mission Santa Clara
500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara
$35–$75
Tickets online 6 PM
Tickets online 8:30 PM
San Francisco Bay Area Chamber Choir, Ofer dal Lal, Artistic Director
“The Sound of Christmas Past,” a lecture/concert featuring entirely music from the Middle Ages and Renaissance: anonymous medieval pieces, including one from the Montpellier Codex, and works of Perotin, Josquin, Praetorius, Victoria, and Vulpius. The simplest melody can carry a feeling across centuries, and being sung ages after its inception, it can come to new life like a withered branch blossoming again.
7 PM
St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church
500 De Haro Street, San Francisco
$25 general admission, $10 young audience (30 and under), $40 SFBACC Supporter.
Tickets online, at the door and from choir members.
(Online ticket sales end on the day of the event, but are still available at the door)
https://www.sfbaychoir.org/dec-2018/
San Francisco Renaissance Voices
“A Festival of Lessons & Carols” with Guest Conductor Derek Tam (Music Director MUSA & Ars Minerva Opera Company). We join our host as Artists-in-Residence, The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation in San Francisco, for our annual Festival of Lessons & Carols as we re-create the service that originated in 1918 at King’s College (England) celebrating the season as well as the end of World War I. Featured will be Medieval through Contemporary motets and carols, as well as a specially commissioned work for this year’s festival by Bay Area composer Kyle Hovatter. And as always, there will be plenty of carols for you to sing along with us, accompanied by organist Stacy Cullison. Not only is it a free event but one of our most popular offerings, so be sure to come early to get a good seat – don’t miss it! (Note: reservations are requested as this was a standing room only event last year; click on this link or phone 415-564-2324).
4 PM
The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation
1750 29th Avenue, San Francisco
CLICK HERE to make your free reservation!
Schola Magdalen, Andy Canepa, conductor and organ
“Mystery and Joy: A Christmas Miracle” A medieval and Renaissance concert featuring works by Dufay, Binchois, Josquin, Senfl, and anonymous composers. The Schola Magdalen performs with special guest instrumentalists Roy Whelden, vielle and viol; Cheryl Ann Fulton, harp; Julie Jeffrey, Peter Hallifax and Amy Brodo, viols; Carlo Benedetti, cornetto and recorders; William Poulter, flute; Joe Ungerer, Recorders.
8 PM Pre-concert lecture by John Prescott at 7:30 PM
St. Mary Magdalen Church
2005 Berryman St., Berkeley
Free Parking lot
Tickets range from $15–$35
Discount Advanced tickets: https://mysteryandjoy.brownpapertickets.com
Voices of Music
“Virtuoso Baroque Concertos” Celebrate the holidays with a festive evening of baroque trumpet and violin concertos. Featuring Dominic Favia, Lisa Grodin, Katherine Heater, Kati Kyme, Augusta McKay Lodge, Carla Moore, Farley Pearce, Hanneke van Proosdij, David Tayler, Tanya Tomkins, William Skeen, Amy Wang, Gabrielle Wunsch, and Alana Youssefian.
8 PM
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
1111 O’Farrell St., San Francisco
$47 Adult, $42 Senior/SFEMS/EMA/ARS. Full-time student: $5
Tickets online
Sunday, December 23
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
Voices of Music
“Virtuoso Baroque Concertos” Celebrate the holidays with a festive evening of baroque trumpet and violin concertos. Featuring Dominic Favia, Lisa Grodin, Katherine Heater, Kati Kyme, Augusta McKay Lodge, Carla Moore, Farley Pearce, Hanneke van Proosdij, David Tayler, Tanya Tomkins, William Skeen, Amy Wang, Gabrielle Wunsch, and Alana Youssefian.
7:30 PM
St. Mary Magdalen Chuch
2005 Berryman St., Berkeley
$47 Adult, $42 Senior/SFEMS/EMA/ARS. Full-time student: $5
Tickets online
Continue reading next week’s calendar . . .
