Symphony Center of Chicago will ring in the holidays with a festive schedule of seasonal concerts in November and December. The celebration begins on Thanksgiving weekend with the Vienna Boys Choir in concert on November 30, singing a program of holiday carols, new compositions and sacred and secular folk songs from around the world.
Symphony Center Presents will welcome Chanticleer back for their annual holiday program, "A Chanticleer Christmas," on December 4 and 5. The 12-voice a capella men's chorus will sing traditional carols, liturgical works and holiday favorites amid the Gothic splendor of Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago.
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra's own holiday program, "Welcome Yule!," returns again this year, and Symphony Center will deck its halls in grand style for the program, offered eight times between December 14-23.
"Welcome Yule!" is an annual Chicago tradition featuring members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Chorus, dancers, children's ensembles and colorful characters.
This year, the first half of the program is based on Dylan Thomas' classic Christmas story, A Child's Christmas in Wales, with music by resident composer Gary Fry. Some of the traditional carols featured in Act I include "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," and the "Evening Prayer" and "Angel's Dance" from Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel.
Act II features a humorous reversal of Christmas traditions as members of the CSO, chorus, dance ensemble, and Welcome Yule! Children's Ensemble prepare a special gift for Santa, himself. The presentation of Santa's gift will be accompanied by music from Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols and end on a resounding note with "Christmas in Chicago!"
As an extra Christmas treat, before each performance and during intermissions, choirs from local schools and community ensembles will entertain concertgoers with caroling throughout the lobby spaces of Symphony Center.
For more information about holiday concerts at Symphony Center, please do visit cso.org.
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