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11/22/2017 11:01 PMIt’s a long standing tradition. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Orchestra New England starts the holiday season with its Colonial Concert. Audience members are transported back to the colonial era complete with wigs, waistcoats, and candlelight, where maestro James Sinclair introduces them to the latest in European music. This year’s concert, held at United Church on the Green, New Haven is on Saturday, Nov. 25. It will feature a recent Hayden symphony, as well as a popular French song by Jean-Paul-Egide Maitini. Organist Walden Moor of Trinity Church on the Green is a guest artist. The audience also gets a visit from the wife of the President of the Continental Congress, portrayed by Danielle Chaves of the Yale School of Drama. For tickets visit orchestranewengland.org or call 800-595-4849.
Two ensembles of the New Haven Symphony (NHSO) are offering concerts this season. Holiday Extravaganza features the Pops under the baton of Chelsea Tipton. The guest soloist is Connor Bogart and it always includes a sing-along. Performances are Saturday, Dec. 16 at Hamden Middle School, Sunday, Dec. 17 at Shelton High School, and Thursday, Dec. 21 at Woolsey Hall in New Haven.
The NHSO Brass Quintet will perform with Tony and Grammy Award-nominated Bryce Pinkham on Friday, Dec. 15 at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, and Saturday, Dec. 16 at the First Congregational Church in Madison. Among the selections will be “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “My Favorite Things,” and Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride.” For tickets to any of the concerts visit newhavensymphony.org or call 203-865-0831. For the Sacred Heart concert, visit Edgertoncenter.org.
The Hartford Symphony gets into the holiday mood with its Holiday Cirque Spectacular on Saturday, Dec. 18. Music by the symphony is accompanied by the work of aerialists, contortionists and gymnasts of the world-famous Cirque de la Symphonie, on Saturday, Dec. 16. On Friday, Dec. 8 to Sunday, Dec. 10, the Symphony presents December Dreams which will feature selections from The Nutcracker and William Henry Fry’s Santa Claus (A Christmas Symphony) among other selections. For information and tickets visit hartfordsymphony.org or call 860-987-5900.
Three Bridgeport events are on the calendar this holiday season. The Vienna Boys Choir is presenting a concert at The Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport on Saturday, Dec. 2. For tickets visit theKlein.org or call 800-524-0160. Believe presented by Cirque Musica Holiday with the Greater Bridgeport Symphony is Tuesday, Dec. 12 at the Webster Bank arena. Tickets are available at websterbankarena.com. The Symphony is also presenting Holiday Interlude on Saturday, Dec. 16 at the Klein. Selections from The Nutcracker as well as Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 and holiday music are on the bill. Tickets are at theKlein.org.
Popular Music
Opera singers, including local residents David Pittsinger and Patricia Shuman, are in concert at Ivoryton Playhouse, Thursday, Dec. 21 and Friday, Dec. 22. Billed as The Ivoryton Playhouse Christmas Hour with David Pittsinger and Friends, it will feature both classical and popular holiday music. Joining Pittsinger and Shuman are Carly Callahan of Madison, along with Charlie Widmer and Katie Weiser. For ticket visit ivorytonplayhouse.org or call 860-767-7318.
The Kate in Old Saybrook is presenting three holiday themed concerts. On Saturday, Dec. 2 it’s The Drifters–Holiday Magic. The concert includes “Rudolph” as well as their iconic version of “Silent Night.” Elisabeth Von Trapp–granddaughter of the legendary Maria of Sound of Music fame, performs on Sunday, Dec. 3.
The Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus performs their concert, Twinkle–A Celestial Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 10. It includes the area premier of James Eakin’s “Stargazing.” The group will also present the concert of Saturday, Dec. 16 and Sunday, Dec. 17 at the High School of Performing Arts at 177 College Street, New Haven. Tickets for those shows are available at ctgmc.org or 203-777-2923. For any concert at The Kate, visit katherinhepburntheater.org or call 877-503-1286.
The Blind Boys of Alabama are bringing their Christmas Show featuring the Preservation Hall Legacy Horns on Saturday, Dec. 2 to the Schubert in New Haven. This group has earned five Grammy Awards plus a Lifetime Achievement Award. For ticket visit Shubert.com or call 203-562-5666.
From Tinseltown to Times Square: A Holiday Adventure is the title for the concert by the Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus on Friday to Sunday, Dec. 8-10 at the Wadsworth Atheneum’s Aetna Theatre. The concert will feature holiday songs from Broadway and films including How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Elf the Musical. Tickets are at www.tickets.hgmc.org.
In addition, numerous church choirs and community choruses present holiday concerts. You can also expect several performances of The Messiah either in concert or as “sing-alongs”. This includes the sing-along at The Kate on Saturday, Dec. 17.