St. Charles Singers to perform 'Candlelight Carols'
The St. Charles Singers, led by choirmaster Jeffrey Hunt, will unwrap a colorful new array of more than 20 seasonal songs at its 33rd annual "Candlelight Carols" Christmas concerts this weekend in St. Charles and Chicago.
Christmas concerts have been a tradition for the choir since its founding in 1984.
"While the title of our Christmas concert stays the same year after year, the program is never the same twice," Hunt says. "There will always be holiday favorites, along with musical discoveries for listeners and songs offering stimulating challenges for our mixed-voice ensemble of accomplished choristers."
Among the many works new to the professional chamber choir's repertoire will be a set of songs by Scandinavian composers, including Gunnar Eriksson's "Norwegian Lullaby"; Ola Gjeilo's "Ubi Caritas" with piano improvisation; and Anders Orhwall's "Brudmarsch fran Jamtland" for choir, flute, and double bass and "Fabodpsalm fran Dalarna" for choir and flute.
The choir of 31 voices will perform a group of songs honoring the late English choral composer David Willcocks. These include John Rutter's "Rejoice and Sing" and Bob Chillcott's "There is No Rose," both new to the St. Charles Singers, and Willcocks' own "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day" and "Come All Ye Faithful."
This will be the first time the ensemble has presented John Ireland's "The Holy Boy"; Brent Pierce's "How Still He Rests," for choir, flute, and wind chimes; Karl Jenkins's "Sleep Child of Winter"; Downers Grove-based composer, arranger, and keyboard player Scott Stevenson's arrangement of "Go Tell It on the Mountain"; and Shawn Kirchner's Pat-a-Pan, a showpiece for female voices.
Women's voices alone also will be heard in Patrick Hadley's "I Sing of a Maiden," while men will take the spotlight for Franz Biebl's "Ave Maria," a carol popularized by the all-male choir Chanticleer.
The choir will sing motets by two great names in classical music: Johannes Brahms's "Es ist das Heil uns kommen her," Op. 29. No. 1; and Sergei Rachmaninov's "Bogoroditse Devo."
Also on the program are Robert Shaw and Alice Parker's arrangement of "Hacia Belen va un borrico," Rutter's "Donkey Carol" - Hunt calls it a "fun piece" - and the choir's traditional closing carol, a surround-sound rendition of Willcocks' arrangement of "Silent Night," with the singers encircling the sanctuary.
When and where
The St. Charles Singers will present "Candlelight Carols" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave., St. Charles; at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut St., Chicago; and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at Baker Church in St. Charles.
Tickets and details
Single tickets for the "Candlelight Carols" concert are $35 adult general admission, $30 for seniors 65 and older, and $10 for students.
Tickets and general information about the St. Charles Singers are available at www.stcharlessingers.com or by calling (630) 513-5272. Tickets are also available at Townhouse Books, 105 N. Second Ave., St. Charles (checks or cash only at this ticket venue). Tickets may also be purchased at the door on the day of the concert, depending on availability. Group discounts are available.
Candlelight Choristers
St. Charles Singers ensemble members performing in the concert include sopranos Jeanne Fornari, Batavia; Ingrid Burrichter, Chicago; Marybeth Kurnat, Cortland; Cynthia Spiegel, La Fox; Meredith Du Bon and Jennifer Gingrich, Naperville; Grace Bardsley and AnDréa James, St. Charles; and Karen Lukose, Winfield.
The concert's alto section includes Christina Collins, Arlington Heights; Sarah Underhill, Aurora; Mary Kunstman, Elburn; Julie Popplewell, North Aurora; Bridget Kancler, Oak Park; Jennifer Hunt, St. Charles; Debby Wilder, Wheeling; and Chelsea Rhoades, Yorkville.
Tenors are Rob Campbell, DeKalb; Bradley Staker, Elburn; Jonathan Cramer, Gurnee; Aaron James, St. Charles; Gregor King, Sycamore; David Hunt, Wayne; and Steve Williamson, West Chicago.
Basses include Jess Koehn, Phil Nohl, and Michael Thoms, Aurora; Brandon Fox, Batavia; Antonio Quaranta, Carol Stream; Nate Coon, Crystal Lake; and Michael Popplewell, North Aurora.