Chorus Angelicus & Gaudeamus to present Annual “Christmas Angelicus” Series

Nov. 1, 2010 - PRLog -- Chorus Angelicus and Gaudeamus will present the 16th annual Christmas Angelicus concert series, at four churches in Connecticut, chosen for their aesthetic and acoustic beauty. Nicholas White (Artistic Director), John McDonough (Narrator) and Kevin Jones (Organist) will lead the choirs in these annual performances that have become an audience favorite. The schedule of dates, times and venues is as follows:

Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 5:00pm – Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford, CT
Friday, December 17, 2010 at 7:30pm – Hotchkiss School Chapel, Lakeville, CT
Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 5:00pm – St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Litchfield, CT
Sunday, December 19, 2010 at 5:00pm – Trinity Episcopal Church, Torrington, CT

Tickets:
General Admission: $25
Priority: $40
Student: $15
Student Priority: $20
Group discounts are available.

Carols and hymns, traditional, original and contemporary are interspersed with readings, sacred, profane, comic and profound in this unforgettably poignant and beautiful celebration of Christmas. This concert, conducted in the glow of candlelight and amidst a sea of red robes and poinsettias, continues to infuse audiences and performers alike with the beauty of this time of year. The range of music selections and readings, from well-loved and familiar to unknown and thought-provoking, renders a sense of mystery of the season as well as its joy. For many, Christmas Angelicus has become an essential and integral part of the Christmas season. Says one audience member, “For me, Christmas has truly arrived when I hear those angels singing.” Of the Christmas Angelicus recording, released in 1996, Michael Alan Fox of “The Absolute Sound” writes, “This is my favorite Christmas recording of the last several years. This is as close to hearing angels sing as we are likely to get in this life.”

Christmas Angelicus concerts are produced by Joyful Noise, Inc., the non-profit organization which administers the activities of Chorus Angelicus and Gaudeamus. This year, Artistic Director and Grammy-nominated composer and conductor, Nicholas White directs the choirs for his fourth season,  along with organist, Kevin Jones, who is Organist and Choirmaster of Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford. White, an Englishman who has lived in the United States for the last two decades, comes from a lifetime of musical experience as a singer, organist, conductor and composer, steeped in the Anglican Choral Tradition.

Actor, John McDonough, has been awarded the “Golden Voice Award”, by Audiophile magazine. His voice is described in that issue as “one of the top ten of our time.” McDonough has recorded over 200 unabridged selections for Recorded Books and Penguin Audio, and has been a frequent guest on Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion. He was seen on the Fox Family Network for three seasons as Captain Kangaroo. He divides his time between his family home in Connecticut and a suite of rooms in Manhattan.

This year’s Christmas Angelicus concerts will include original carols and arrangements by Nicholas White, including a new piece written especially for the occasion entitled "Prayer For A New Mother" to the poem by Dorothy Parker. The soaring descants of Founding Director, Paul Halley, and music of the season from many different centuries and world traditions will round out the program. Featured composers will be Byrd, Parry, Darke, Poston, Archer, Rutter and Willcocks. As always, there will be plenty of opportunity for audience members to raise their voices in song, joining in the familiar carols of the season.

This is a not-to-be-missed experience. Order your CHRISTMAS ANGELICUS tickets early to ensure seats.

http://www.chorusangelicus.info

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About Chorus Angelicus & Gaudeamus: five choral ensembles involving 70 children and 50 adults, based in Torrington, CT. The Director is Grammy-nominated composer and conductor, Nicholas White. Emphasis placed on musical education and performance.