The Los Angeles Master Chorale brings the gift of music to Walt Disney Concert Hall in December with a series of festive "Christmas in Los Angeles" concerts. The varied programs blend traditional carols, Baroque-era madrigals, and new works alongside the popular annual opportunity for the audience to sing-along to Handel's majestic oratorio, Messiah.
"For lovers of choral music, Christmas truly is a wonderful time of the year," says Los Angeles Master Chorale Artistic Director, Grant Gershon. "We are proud to continue our tradition of bringing the many voices of Los Angeles together for two Festival of Carols concerts, to further introduce our audiences to the wonderful talents of Eric Whitacre, and to give people the chance to sing Messiah in Walt Disney Concert Hall. These are always festive and joyous concerts that we love to perform." Gershon will conduct two Festival of Carols concerts and the 36th Annual Messiah Sing-Along. Newly appointed Assistant Conductor, Jenny Wong, will make her Master Chorale debut on the Festival of Carols program, conducting two pieces. The Christmas with Eric Whitacre concert will be conducted by the Master Chorale's Swan Family Artist-in-Residence Whitacre himself and also features several pieces he has composed. All concerts are held in Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave.Saturday, December 3, 2 pm
Saturday, December 10, 8 pm
Photo: Jamie Pham
With the vocal force of 115 Master Chorale singers and the radiant sound of the Walt Disney Concert Hall organ, the Festival of Carols concerts conducted by Grant Gershon are a jubilant celebration of the holiday season. Featuring new arrangements of traditional carols, including several popular arrangements by the Master Chorale's most recent Composer-in-Residence Shawn Kirchner, and other holiday favorites, this concert highlights the joys of the season and concludes with the opportunity to visit with Santa. The Los Angeles Master Chorale's popular Festival of Carols album, its first holiday recording in 20 years released last year and recorded live in Walt Disney Concert Hall, will be available for sale at these concerts and is also available from LAMasterChorale.org, iTunes, and Amazon.com PROGRAM:Grant Gershon, conductor
Jenny Wong, conductor
Eric Whitacre. Photo: Marc Royce
Eric Whitacre, the Los Angeles Master Chorale's Swan Family Artist-in-Residence, conducts a performance of sublime Christmas choral music, from Renaissance and Baroque madrigals to modern-day motets, including five of his own compositions. "I lived in London for the past five years and was exposed to the traditions there, so the program reflects an evolution of my sense of Christmas," says Whitacre. "There are always two kinds of Christmases going on. There's the vibrant celebration in our modern world, which tends to be splashy. And there is this wintertime Christmas I love the most. It's warm and a little melancholy, close and intimate. That's what I'm hoping to make us feel with this program." Grammy Award-winning Whitacre's choral works have been performed around the world by both professional and amateur singers. A unifying and popular voice within the international choir community, Whitacre has over 243,000 Facebook fans, over 76,000 Twitter followers, and over 39,000 Instagram followers. Videos of his Virtual Choir projects have collectively been viewed by millions on YouTube and his popularity is reflected in the rapid ticket sales for this concert. Now based in L.A., Whitacre first conducted the Los Angeles Master Chorale in June. "What stands out about the Master Chorale is not only that these are phenomenal singers; they're also unbelievably versatile. They can turn on a dime from one style to another, and that is very unusual," he says. The Master Chorale will perform the world premiere of a new Whitacre work in June 2017 as part of the Lux Aeterna 20th Anniversary celebration. PROGRAM:Photo: Jamie Pham
Performed with a full orchestra and featuring four professional soloists, Artistic Director Grant Gershon conducts the entire 2,200-member audience for a performance of Handel's oratorio, Messiah. This year, for the first time, singers from the Master Chorale will join the audience for the choral passages and fill the hall with an even bigger holiday sound. Participants can bring their own Messiah score or purchase one at the concert for $10. This year a limited number of $125 VIP tickets will be available for purchase to singers who would like to get the full Master Chorale performance experience. Tickets include backstage entrance, warm-up with the Master Chorale singers, walking onto the stage to sing Handel's Messiah alongside singers of the Chorale, and champagne during intermission. Featuring the rousing and uplifting "Hallelujah Chorus," the Master Chorale first offered audiences the chance to sing the oratorio in 1980 under founding Music Director Roger Wagner. It has since become a beloved tradition with many in the audience dressing up for the occasion in everything from formal wear to Christmas sweaters. PROGRAM:Videos