The holidays are rich with music
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.30.2007
What better way to celebrate the holidays than with music.
And in a music-rich city like Tucson, there's an endless variety, from classical to contemporary, with a few twists:
• Music in the Canyon — 5-9 p.m. today at Lowell Complex in Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Road. $2 per person donation, or $5 family at the park; parking fee waived. Why you want to see it: Is there anything more pure and serene than the sound of the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus hitting that high note and having it sail on a light breeze above the crests and towering saguaros? Exactly.
• Tucson Chamber Orchestra's "Messiah" — Performances: 7:30 p.m. today at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 7575 N. Paseo del Norte; 2 p.m. Sunday at St. Gregory College Preparatory School, 3231 N. Craycroft Road. Tickets: $15 adults, $10 students at the door or in advance by calling 401-4369. Featuring the newly established 30-member TCO Chorus and guest soloists. Why you want to see it: It is one of Handel's most popular works and beloved masterpieces. Describing it as magnificent and glorious are not understatements, and the work brims with drama and aching beauty, as well as that unforgettable Hallelujah chorus that stands your arm hairs on end.
• "Bethlehem" — Performances: 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday at Tucson East Stake Center, 6901 E. Kenyon Drive, south of Broadway. Tickets: Free. Why you want to see it: A University of Arizona graduate student composed the oratorio that includes a full orchestra and 90-voice choir. The oratorio explores the birth of the messiah in spoken word and song.
• Reveille Men's Chorus "A Twisted Christmas" — Performances: 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Grace St Paul's Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St. Tickets: $15 in advance at Antigone Books, 411 N. Fourth Ave., or through the chorus, 304-1758; $20 at the door, with discounts available. Why you want to see it: The concert opens with the classic "Ave Maria," then goes wherever their twisted minds take them. Organizers say they will sing classic Christmas songs, then follow up with parodies, either of the words or the music, or both. Expect lots of laughs and amazing vocal prowess from these guys.
• Pima Community College Chorale and College Singers Holiday Concert — 3 p.m. Sunday at PCC Center for the Arts Proscenium Theatre, 2202 W. Anklam Road. Tickets: $5-$6 at the door or through the box office, 206-6986. Why you want to see it: In the large mixed-voice Chorale and the smaller mixed-voice College Singers, we get to see promising young talent performing Christmas classics and contemporary tunes.
• Tucson Symphony Orchestra's "Messiah!" — Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursday at DesertView Performing Arts Center, 39900 S. Clubhouse Drive in Saddlebrooke; 8 p.m. Dec. 7-8, 2 p.m. Dec. 9 at Catalina Foothills High School, 4300 E. Sunrise Drive. Tickets: $50 for SaddleBrooke through www.saddlebrooketwo.com; $38 for Tucson shows through the TSO, 882-8585 or www.tucsonsymphony.org. Features the orchestra, TSO Chorus and guest vocalists mezzo-soprano Keri Alkema, tenor Eric Fennell and baritone Andrew Garland. Why you want to see it: See above, and add to it the TSO's tenure at mounting "Messiah!" as well as its penchant for bringing in top-notch vocal guests to breathe life into Charles Jennens' libretto.
• Christmas Concert at San Xavier — Performances: 6 and 8 p.m. Dec. 11-13 at San Xavier del Bac Mission, 1950 W. San Xavier Road. Note: The 6 p.m. concerts are sold out and a few seats remain for the 8 p.m. concerts each day. Featuring the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus and Sons of Orpheus — The Male Choir of Tucson. Tickets: $80 by calling 407-6130. Why you want to see it: It's an 11-year tradition and one of the hottest holiday tickets in town. To sit in the historic mission and hear the wondrous marriage of male voices bouncing off the stone acoustics will put your heart to flutter from the sheer beauty.
• Southern Arizona Women's Chorus "Winter Celebrations Around the World" — Performances: 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at Ascension Lutheran Church, 1220 W. Magee Road, east of La Cañada Drive; 3 p.m. Dec. 16, University of Arizona's Crowder Hall. Tickets: $15. 404-3148. Why you want to see it: The 80-woman chorus will present the warmth of the season through beautiful Christmas favorites.
• Tucson Arizona Mass Choir — Performances: 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, 3809 E. Third St. Price: Free-will offering accepted. Why you want to see it: It's the choir's gift to the community, an afternoon of Christmas music from traditional to contemporary, gospel to other faith-based styles. The eight-year-old choir is composed of 80 members from 22 Tucson churches.
• Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus Holiday Concert — Performances: 3 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at Centennial Hall. Tickets: $15-$18 through Centennial Hall box office, 621-3341. Why you want to see it: Talk about tradition — the boys have been performing a holiday concert for 68 years.
• "Scrooge in Concert" — Performances: 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 at Centennial Hall. Presented by UApresents. Tickets: $18-$42 through Centennial Hall box office, 621-3341. Why you want to see it: The holiday classic about Scrooge is re-imagined with a cast of 30 singers, dancers and musicians. The musical debuted off-Broadway in 1998 and features Victorian costumes, modern choreography and wonderful music.
• TSO Holiday Spectacular — Performances: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21-22, 2 p.m. Dec. 23 at the Tucson Music Hall. Featuring the return of guest conductor Michael Hall, music director of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra in California. Tickets: $21-$53 through the TSO, 882-8585, or online at www.tucsonsymphony.org. Why you want to see it: It's a Tucson tradition showcasing cooperation between the orchestra, Tucson Regional Ballet and Mariachi Aztlan de Pueblo. But the big draw is the chance to join in a holiday singalong with the TSO Chorus.
Other concerts to pencil in:
• Musica Sonora "With Mirth and Good Cheer: A Christmas Feast with Musica Sonora," Dec. 8 at Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Dec. 9 at DesertView Performing Arts Center in SaddleBrooke. 628-8119.
• Sons of Orpheus Holiday Concert, Dec. 1, DesertView Performing Arts Center, SaddleBrooke.
•Tucson Chamber Artists Christmas Concert, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church and Dec. 16 at Dove of Peace Lutheran Church.
• Tucson Girls Chorus Holiday Concert, Dec. 15 at UA's Crowder Hall.
— Cathalena E. Burch
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