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Behold the Star!
Holiday Concerts
Saint Francis Church
Celebrate the holidays with a banquet of choral works that span five centuries, in the cathedral-like setting of Sacramento’s St. Francis Church. Ralph Hughes is excited about presenting a number of antiphonal works including Gabrieli’s In Dio Sol, which divides the Master Singers into three choirs, surrounding the audience with a mesmerizing antiphonal effect. Enjoy the lush combination of voices, brass, percussion and organ on John Rutter’s beloved Gloria, written for the late Sacramento choral director, Mel Olson. The program also includes new arrangements of holiday favorites, such as Eric Lichte’s complex setting of Deck the Hall and Jim Clement’s Away in a Manger. For added fun there’s William Dawson’s spiritual Behold the Star, Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus (with an added twist), and Eric Whitacre’s lush Lux Aurumque. Our annual holiday concerts will include all our special traditions: a quiet and reflective processional, early Renaissance and Baroque motets sung surrounding the audience, and favorite carols old and new. Here are some comments from patrons who attended previous holiday concerts: P. Collen Perez writes, ” Spectacular! As always serene yet joyous.” Elaine Rietz comments, ”This is the best Christmas concert I’ve ever heard! Thank you Master Singers.” Elizabeth Stein pens,” I’ve been enjoying your concerts for many years and I have never been disappointed! Thank you for the excellent performances!” Bill Waterman states,” I’ve heard many concerts, and this is by far the best Christmas concert ever!” John and Bonita Luts, first time attenders said,” The Master Singers encircled the audience to sing their opening pieces. Thereafter we were treated to crisp attacks, delicate pianissimos, and thundering fortissimos that left us breathless. Where have we been the last twenty years?”
Photos courtesy of Bruce Patt (from our December 9th Concert)  |
 
When the voices first filled the room, I felt all the cares of the day roll off. |
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