December At-A-Glance!
It’s not yet Thanksgiving, but Christmas decorations are already out, and so is our December concert schedule. Along with our regular holiday traditions, we have some special performances this year that we couldn’t be more excited about!
The first event of the holiday season is Beethoven’s Seventh, taking place Thursday-Saturday, December 5-7. Lauded as one of Beethoven’s greatest symphonies, Beethoven’s Seventh epitomizes his mastery of rhythm and harmony, and is haunting and majestic in concert. Included in this concert is a performance of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 by award-winning and returning Ukranian pianist Vadym Kholodenko, who makes the California stop in his World Tour to play with our Pacific Symphony. After Friday’s “Classical KUSC @ Pacific Symphony” performance, we will also host a free Holiday Party after the show.
On Saturday, December 7, we will have two showings of Nutcracker for Kids at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. It will be a 45-minute condensed version of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince’s classic journey through the snow and sugarplum-fairy land. The event is complete with a full orchestra and ballet. Enjoy FREE interactive activities in the lobby, featuring family-friendly arts and crafts, an instrument petting zoo and opportunities to meet Symphony musicians and local performing groups!
On Sunday afternoon, December 8, is Handel’s Glorious Messiah. This ever-popular holiday tradition, beloved for its blaring trumpets and “Hallelujah!” chorus, features the Pacific Chorale as well as guest vocalists Elissa Johnston, Kate Maroney, Derek Chester and Paul Max Tipton. The entire place was packed last year so get your tickets soon!
Another Holiday tradition, our annual Holiday Organ Spectacular, will be on December 17. Todd Wilson, head of the Organ Department at the Cleveland Institute of Music and world-renowned organist, will be on the 4,322 pipe, $3.1 million William J. Gillespie Concert Organ. The performance will include sacred and traditional music, as well as Christmas Carols that will put you in the holiday spirit!
We have a very special Christmas celebration to end the year. Coming off her 11-year residency at the Flamingo in Las Vegas, Marie Osmond will join us for Christmas with Marie Osmond on Friday and Saturday, December 20 and 21! This exclusive event will include performances by David Osmond, her fellow Las Vegas resident artist and brother, and Daniel Emmett, a finalist from “America’s Got Talent.” Experience her captivating talent with an unforgettable holiday concert featuring festive favorites as well as hit singles such as “Paper Roses.”
Jacob Sanchez is an arts and culture writer based in Southern California. His work has been published in the “Inkslinger” and “River Voice” journals.