The vacations is usually a whirlwind of purchasing, baking, assembly and greeting – all of it beautiful, however in some unspecified time in the future, all of us must cease, take a break, and take heed to some music. And the music we hear this time of 12 months is good. For many people, it’s one of many causes for the season.
After all, the Bay Space’s music scene presents far more than the standard fare. This month brings the nice works — Handel’s “Messiah,” “Nutcrackers” galore and different musical and humanities masterworks — however there are many outside-the-box occasions to select from too.
Right here’s only a partial listing of this month’s many nice occasions.
Vacation Choral by Candlelight: Below conductor Kevin Fox, the Marin Symphony’s December program options the Marin Symphony Chamber Refrain and Marin Women Refrain in a program together with works by Biebl, Rutter, Amy Seaside, and others, with harp solos, candle lighting and carols.
Particulars: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, 4 p.m. Dec. 8, Saint Raphael Church, San Rafael; $40 basic, $20 youth; marinsymphony.org.
“Wintersongs”: Kitka, the acclaimed nine-woman vocal ensemble devoted to the music of the Balkan, Caucasus and Slavic lands, returns with its annual live performance following the arc of the “Supra,” a standard Georgian ritual feast.
Particulars: Dec. 7-22; concert events in Belvedere, Menlo Park, Santa Cruz, Oakland, San Francisco and extra venues; $36-$56; kitka.org.
“Christmas at the California”: Symphony San Jose, joined by the Symphony San Jose Chorale, celebrates “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” This system contains carols, sing-alongs, and different seasonal music, together with the Silicon Valley model of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
Particulars: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9, 2:30 p.m. Dec. 10, California Theatre, San Jose; $55-$115; symphonysanjose.org.
“A Bach Christmas”: Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra returns with a program that includes music by Bach and German composer Christoph Graupner. Ruben Valenzuela conducts, and particular visitor soprano Sherezade Panthaki joins the orchestra and Philharmonia Chorale.
Particulars: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11, Bing Corridor, Stanford College; repeats Dec. 12 at Herbst Theater, San Francisco, and Dec. 13 at First Congregational Church, Berkeley; $15-$32; philharmonia.org.
“Messiah,” American Bach Soloists: It’s a Bay Space custom: Handel’s masterwork, carried out in Grace Cathedral, is without doubt one of the nice vacation occasions, and American Bach presents it in all of its splendor. This 12 months, conductor Jeffrey Thomas leads the orchestra and Bach Choir in a efficiency that includes soprano Mary Wilson, countertenor Eric Jurenas, tenor Jon Lee Keenan, baritone Jesse Blumberg, and the corporate’s Bach Choir.
Particulars: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco; $25-$135; americanbach.org.
“The Christmas Truce”: Now in its 62nd season, the Santa Clara Chorale presents a piece marking the 110th anniversary of a World Battle I occasion when troopers on either side of battle laid down their arms for an evening of much-needed peace.
Particulars: 8 p.m. Dec. 13, 4 p.m. Dec. 15, Mission Santa Clara, $32-$40; $12 pupil, below 18 free; scc.org.
“Holiday Gaiety”: San Francisco Symphony has a full calendar of vacation treats for December, together with performances of Handel’s Messiah, “Holiday Brass,” and “The Muppet Christmas Carol.” One of many highlights is that this occasion, that includes the San Francisco Homosexual Males’s Refrain in a program carried out by Edwin Outwater.
Particulars: 7:30 Dec. 13, Davies Symphony Corridor, San Francisco; $39-$225; sfsymphony.org.
“The San Jose Nutcracker”: Symphony San Jose joins forces with New Ballet in Tchaikovsky’s beloved vacation traditional, choreographed by Dalia Rawson and carried out by Thomas Shoebotham. Matinee and night performances can be found.
Particulars: 2 and seven p.m. Dec. 14; further dates and instances by Dec. 23; California Theatre, San Jose; $31.50-$121.50; symphonysanjose.org.
“Let Us Break Bread Together”: Below its late music director Michael Morgan, the Oakland Symphony’s annual vacation live performance turned a must-attend occasion. Now below Kedrick Armstrong, the orchestra’s good new conductor, the Symphony continues the custom with a festivity. Titled “The Legends of Disco,” it options the orchestra, refrain, and particular company; come ready to sing alongside.
Particulars: 4 p.m. Dec. 15, Paramount Theater, Oakland; $15-$68; oaklandsymphony.org.
“Tres Souls: Boleros de Navidad”: Completed with the same old carols? Try this festive Latin vacation live performance that includes the trio in conventional songs and classic hits from the Nineteen Forties-Nineteen Sixties, together with works from the golden age of Mexican cinema.
Particulars: 7:30 Dec. 16, Bankhead Theater, Livermore; $25-$60; livermorearts.org.
“Holiday Spectacular!”: Cal Performances brings the San Francisco Homosexual Males’s Refrain to Zellerbach Corridor with the corporate’s annual heartfelt, hilarious program of vacation carols, satirical sketches, visitor dancers, and drag artists.
Particulars: 5 p.m. Dec. 21, Zellerbach Corridor, UC Berkeley; $45-$125; calperformances.org.
Contact Georgia Rowe at growe@pacbell.web.
