SF Choral Artists: Old Chestnuts, New Fire! December 12, 2009

"Traditional December choral concerts, with their well-worn carols and holiday themes, can be great for lifting the spirits. But for concertgoers who want more than just another sing-along, San Francisco Choral Artists' upcoming program, "Old Chestnuts, New Fire!," offers a tantalizing alternative. Under Magen Solomon's direction, SFCA has assembled one of the holiday season's more distinctive repertories, combining a selection of audience/singer favorites with several newer works, two premieres and, yes, some Christmas carols - in performances Dec. 5 in Palo Alto, Dec. 12 in San Francisco, and Dec. 13 in Oakland." So wrote Joseph Sargent in a Preview article on sfcv.org.

The program includes Early Music by Byrd and Gesualdo, more contemporary works by Part, Biebl, Busto, Howells, and Tavener; favorites from among the Bay Area's own most well known composers - Maia Aprahamian, David Conte, Herb Bielawa, Roger Nixon, and Wayne Peterson; and sparkling world premieres by Composer-in-Residence Brian Holmes and Composer-Not-In-Residence, New Zealander Christopher Marshall.

Writes Sargent: "[Artistic Director] Solomon avidly cultivates engagements with local artists to help bridge the gulf between composer and performer... "I feel like music needs to be live music," Solomon comments. "It's so easy to listen to flawless recordings, but having live singers in front of live audiences singing music by living composers has always been a critical part of our group."

Come celebrate the season with this unusual concert.

"...amongst the foremost unaccompanied singing groups... on this or any other coast." -- R. Dane Danubian, artssf.com

"The Choral Artists sang with fervor, discernment, and tonal beauty"
-- Anna Carol Dudley, San Francisco Classical Voice

Official Website: http://www.sfca.org