Concerts and Events Calendar

Friday, December 5, 2014

Hartford Gay Men's Chorus

Winter Wonderland featuring Nutcracker: Men in Tights!

Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus will present its annual holiday jubilee, Winter Wonderland, featuring Nutcracker: Men in Tights!, at 8 p.m. on Friday, December 5, and Saturday, December 6, in the Aetna Theater at The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in downtown Hartford.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director J.D. Bauer, the first half of the holiday extravaganza will feature everyone’s yuletide favorites, including “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening,” and of course, “Winter Wonderland.”

The second half of the evening will showcase a comedic take on The Nutcracker. When the ladies of a ballet troupe fall ill, a zany group of handsome men are forced to perform all of the immortal characters, from sugar plum fairies to dancing mice—and even Clara! Craig Carnahan wrote the lyrics to Tchaikovsky’s immortal score.

In its third season, the 35-member Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus is celebrated for its musicianship, creative programming and community outreach, according to Executive Director Robert Reader. The Chorus’ next event will be a Valentine’s Day cabaret on Saturday, February 14.

Venue: 8pm Aetna Theater at The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in downtown Hartford.

Tickets: All seats are $25 and general admission. For tickets call the Hartford Stage Box Office at (860) 527-5151 or purchase online at www.hartfordstage.org.

Contact: execdirector@hartfordgaymenschorus.org

Website: www.hgmc.org

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Cappella Cantorum

Bach's 'Magnificat' and Vivaldi's 'Gloria'

Cappella Cantorum Masterworks Chorus will perform Bach's 'Magnificat" and Vivaldi's 'Gloria' on Sunday, Dec. 7, 3 p.m. at St. Mark the Evangelist R.C. Church, 222 McVeagh Road, Westbrook. Soloists will be internationally known opera star Patricia Schuman, soprano, Heather Petrie, contralto, Fredrick Goff, tenor, and Thomas Mullaney, baritone. The audience will be invited to join the chorus in the singing of Christmas carols. Professional chamber orchestra will accompany. Barry Asch directs this 45th anniversary concert; assistant music director is Deborah Lyon. Reception will follow the concert.

Venue: St. Mark the Evangelist R.C. Church, 222 McVeagh Road, Westbrook, CT

Tickets: Advance tickets are $25: purchase on-line at www.CappellaCantorum.org or call 860-577-2950 by Dec. 6. Tickets will be $28 at the door.

Contact: Barry or Wilma Asch, 860-388-2871

Website: www.CappellaCantorum.org

Friday, December 12, 2014

Con Brio Choral Society

Star-Spangled Christmas

Con Brio's much-loved traditional Christmas Concerts - two performances

A joyous celebration of Christmas spanning five centuries of music, with Christmas Carols and audience participation*, featuring Con Brio Choral Society, Con Brio Festival Orchestra, conducted by Dr Stephen Bruce, with soloists Adele Paxton Soprano, Karli Gilbertson Mezzo Soprano, Ransom Bruce Tenor, Greg Flower Bass

The Star-Spangled Banner* Smith arr. Buck
Magnificat in C Major D 486 Schubert
Cantus Natalis Stroope (composed 2007)
Gloria from Mass in D Op. 86 Dvorak
Wachet Auf Op. 12 No.6 Distler
Ave Maria Biebl
Ave Maria Victoria
Hodie Gabrieli (for 10 part choir)
I saw Three Ships Trad. arr. Wilberg
Here we come a-wassailing Trad. arr. Rutter
In Dulci Jubilo Scheidt (for double choir)
O Come, All Ye Faithful* Trad. arr. Willcocks
O Jerusalem in the Morning Trad. arr. Jennings
Hanerot Halalu - Cohon arr. Chass
Jingle, Bells* Pierpoint arr. Willcocks

Venue: Christ the King Church, Old Lyme CT
Dec 12 at 8 pm, Dec 14 at 3 pm

Tickets: Online at www.conbrio.org
Call 860 526 5399
$30, $15 students

Contact: Peter Amos
860 304 1399
petergamos@gmail.com

Website: www.conbrio.org

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Fairfield County Chorale

Handel Messiah

The Fairfield County Chorale presents Handel’s Messiah on Sunday, December 14th at 3pm at the Norwalk Concert Hall. Internationally renowned conductor Maestro David Rosenmeyer will conduct the 120-voi

The Fairfield County Chorale presents Handel’s Messiah on Sunday, December 14th at 3pm at the Norwalk Concert Hall. Internationally renowned conductor Maestro David Rosenmeyer will conduct the 120-voice Chorale accompanied by the Fairfield County Chorale Orchestra. Guest soloists are Lauren Michelle, soprano, Malena Dayen, alto, Nikhil Navkal, tenor and Andrew Cummings, bass.

In many parts of the world, George Frideric Handel’s Messiah has become as indispensable an event in December as the decorating of a Christmas tree. This may seem strange to some, since Handel premiered the work, not during Advent or Christmastide, but during the Easter season in 1742. For this and many other reasons, the Messiah, over the centuries, has been reviewed, discussed and debated by some of the keener minds in the musical world, yet it has endured. A Dublin newspaper referred to it as an “elegant entertainment” on the occasion of its premiere.

Although Handel wrote Messiah in only 24 days over 200 years later it has become one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music. The piece is famous for the universally recognized “Hallelujah Chorus”.

The greatness of Messiah might be explained, according to a quotation in the memoirs of Sir Thomas Beecham, who wrote, “Since his time, mankind has heard no music written for voices which can even feebly rival Handel’s for grandeur of build and tone, nobility and tenderness of melody, scholastic skill and ingenuity, and inexhaustible variety of effect.”

The Fairfield County Chorale will also perform three concerts this season. The first, to be held at the Norwalk Concert Hall on Sunday, December 14th at 3pm is Handel’s Messiah. The second concert, held at Norwalk Concert on Saturday evening, March 27 2015 will be Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and Schoenberg’s A Survivor from Warsaw. This concert will be performed with the New Haven Symphony. This concert will also be performed at Woolsey Hall on April 2nd. Our

Venue: Sunday December 14 at 3pm
Norwalk Concert Hall
125 East Ave
Norwalk CT 06851
off exit 16 I95

Tickets: Tickets are $35 at the door and $30 in advance. All seats are general admission. Tickets are available from chorale members, at our web site or at our office by phone or by mail. Student tickets are $

Contact: For more information or reservations, call (203) 254-1333 or visit the Chorale’s web site at: www.fairfieldcountychorale.org.

Website: www.fairfieldcountychorale.org

Sunday, December 21, 2014

GMChorale

GMChorale Sings Handel's "Messiah" with New Haven Symphony

Greater Middletown Chorale Concert

You are invited to join the GMChorale on Sunday, December 21, 2014 at 5 PM for its majestic performance of Handel’s glorious oratorio, "Messiah," at the MHS Performing Arts Center, 200 LaRosa Lane, Middletown. Crowning the season, the GMChorale teams up with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra for an unforgettable musical experience. Featuring the complete Christmas story, the performance will also include many highlights from the later portions of the oratorio, including the all-time favorite, ”Hallelujah” Chorus. This concert promises to be the finest performance of this cornerstone of classical music during the upcoming holiday season.

GMChorale (Greater Middletown Chorale), with a current membership of 75 singers, is an auditioned symphonic chorus committed to excellence in performing choral masterworks and other outstanding music for all generations of listeners. Centrally based in Middletown, it draws singers from more than 25 communities all across the state.
Please visit www.gmchchorale.org for more information.

Venue: Dec.21, 2014 at 5 PM
The Performing Arts Center at MHS
200 LaRosa Lane
Middletown, CT

Tickets: Tickets are $35 general, $30 senior and $15 student. Visit www.gmchorale.org

Website: www.gmchorale.org