Look in every store and you’ll know the holiday season is upon us! Classical music lovers will not want to miss the Dedham Choral Society’s winter concert with orchestra and organ on Friday, December 2, at 8:00 p.m. at Holy Name Church, 1689 Center St., West Roxbury, MA 02132.
This season, the DCS chorus – including singers Jamie Redgrave and Jaclyn Limberakis – presents two festive works from both the French and Italian baroque period. Arranged especially for this program by JP resident and DCS director Jonathan Barnhart, Suite de Noels is based on the Messe de Minuit pour Noel (Midnight Mass for Christmas) by Marc Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704). Charpentier based his setting of the traditional Latin Mass on popular French noels of his time. This new Suite restores the original French texts with choral section alternating with organ solo versions by Pierre Dandrieu (1664-1733) and Claude Balbastre (1724-1799). The program concludes with one of the most celebratory works for the Christmas season – the Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi, a composition which holds immediate appeal for both performers and audience. Guest performers include soloists Carley DeFranco and Elizabeth Eschen, and Andrew Jonathan Welch as organist. Also, as is a DCS tradition, there will be audience sing-along carols so that everyone can be part of the fun!
Still singing in masks, the 65 choral members from more than 20 communities in greater-Boston have been rehearsing in-person since early September for this concert. Founded 67 years ago by Dedham residents, DCS prides itself on being a “musical family,” not only by performing great choral works together, but also by fostering a supportive network of social relationships that value both long-term members of our inter-generational ensemble and new singers. Weekly rehearsals are held in Dedham’s historic Allin Congregational Church. Auditions by appointment for the spring concert in April will be held at Allin Church, 683 High St., Dedham, MA on January 9, 2023, starting at 7:30 p.m. For information or to schedule an audition, please email [email protected].
Concert tickets are limited. They may be purchased from any DCS member, online at www.dedhamchoral.org/buy-tickets or at the door. Adults-$35 / Seniors-$30 / Students-$20/ Children (ages 5-12)-$5.
Covid protocol: For the health and safety of performers and listeners, each audience member is required to wear a mask at all times.