Batavia High School to present madrigal dinner
Here they come a wassailing!
The Batavia High School Choral Department presents their fifth annual Madrigal Dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Eastside Community Center. Raise your glass and celebrate Christmas in a setting straight out of medieval times.
"The experience of a madrigal dinner is unforgettable," said Paul Marchese, choral director at Batavia High School. "It sets the mood for the season."
A madrigal dinner combines music, theater and food in a Renaissance atmosphere. The performers wear elaborate period costumes and a royal court, jesters and beggars greet all who walk through the door.
Preparing for the dinner takes months, as students start rehearsing in September. The large cast of more than 75 performers includes both choral and string musicians.
"It's really something to see what these young people accomplish musically," said Marchese. "They work very hard."
The students won't be the only ones putting on a show. In order for guests to be served their dinners of chicken kiev and wild rice, they will need to sing for their supper. The cast encourages audience interaction, but if the royal court is not pleased with the performance, the unlucky guest will be sent to the executioner.
"The students really like this part," laughs Marchese. "Especially if it's their parents."
New this year is a special Sunday performance geared specifically toward children ages twelve and under. The idea was inspired by Marchese's four year old daughter.
"She saw the singers' beautiful dresses wanted to know if she could wear a princess dress too," he said. "That got me thinking."
Instead of doing a full-on dinner show, Sunday's rendition will be more of a tea party, with finger foods and treats. The singers will perform a shortened version of their program while sitting at the tables with their young guests. Little princesses are encouraged to wear their favorite dresses, and knight costumes will be provided for the boys.
All performances will feature a mixture of well-known holiday carols, such as "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Deck the Halls," and a cappella Renaissance pieces such as "Lirum."
At $25 a ticket, it would be hard to find more entertainment value for your dollar.
"It's more than a concert because we serve food, and it's more than dinner theater because it is interactive," Marchese said. "It's an experience everyone should do at least once."
Batavia High School's Madrigal Dinner runs 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 12:30 p.m. Saturday and a special tea party showing 2 p.m. Sunday at the Eastside Community Center, 14 N. Van Buren, Batavia. Tickets are $25 for the dinner shows and $15 for the tea party. Seating is very limited. For tickets, email Paul Marchese at paul.marchese bps101.net.
<p class="factboxheadblack">Batavia High School's Madrigal Dinner</p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 12-13; 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 and a special tea party showing at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14</p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Eastside Community Center, 14 N. Van Buren, Batavia</p> <p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> Tickets are $25 for the dinner shows and $15 for the tea party. Seating is very limited. For tickets, email Paul Marchese at <a href="mailto:paul.marchese@bps101.net">paul.marchese@bps101.net</a>.</p>