The Santa Barbara Master Chorale, under guest conductor Erin Bonski-Evans, will perform a live Christmas concert — “Sing We Now of Christmas!” — at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 1300 E. Valley Road, Montecito.
The Chorale’s special guests include Laurie Rasmussen, harpist; Christine Hollinger, soprano; and the American Riviera Children’s Honor Chorus.
The Chorale will begin with the following Christmas carols: “Joy To the World,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Silent Night,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and “The First Noel.” Those wishing to sing along on these carols but are not sure of the words will be relieved to find the Chorale has printed all the lyrics in their program.
The Master Chorale will also perform “Personent Hodie” (German, 1360, arranged by Gustav Holst); “The Nativity Carol (John Rutter);” “In the Bleak Midwinter (Harold Darke);” “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” (14th century German melody, harmonized by Michael Praetorius); and “Sing We Now of Christmas” (French traditional carol, “Noel Nouvelet,” arranged by John Rutter).
The American Riviera Children’s Honor Chorus will sing the “Jubilate Deo” by Michael Praeotorius; “What Child Is This?” (16th century English melody, arranged by Sally DeFord); the “Coventry Carol,” from the “Pagaent of the Shearmen and Tailors,” (arranged by Annie Lennox); “Velvet Shoes” (Randall Thompson); and “Christmas Is Coming” (English traditional canon).
Soprano Christine Hollinger will perform “Gesu Bambino” (Pietro Yon), “Ave Maria” (Charles Gounod), and “O Holy Night” (Adolphe Adam).
Tickets to the Master Chorale are $20 general admission, $10 for children in grades K-12. You can buy them online at www.sbmasterchorale.org and at the door.
Proof of vaccination, a photo ID, and face masks are required.
— Gerald Carpenter covers the arts as a Noozhawk contributing writer. He can be reached at gerald.carpenter@gmail.com. The opinions expressed are his own.