Master Chorale

To Perform

Pre-Holidays Concert

BETHEL — The Connecticut Master Chorale, under the direction of Tina Johns Heidrich, will present its annual Holiday Prelude concert at 3 pm on Sunday, November 18, at St Mary Church.

The program will feature Conrad Susa’s “Christmas Garland,” a glittering tapestry blending creative arrangements of beloved carols into a joyous celebration of Christmas. The cries of “Noel, Noel” in the choir serve as the “garland” that weaves throughout the medley of carols ending in a triumphant finale of “Joy to the World.”

Other selections on the program are calypso numbers “Mary’s Little Boy Child” and Glenn McClure’s “Hodie,” both with steel drums, “Star Carol” by John Rutter, “The Angel Gabriel,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” gospel, lullabies, Hanukkah and African numbers, and other festive selections.

The concert will conclude with a new and highly innovative arrangement of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” by Bob Chilcott of The King’s Singers. This is a vibrant and fresh setting in which the “five gold rings” refrain has been rewritten so that each time the chorale sings the “five golden…” line, an array of extraordinary and amazing guises is unveiled.

The chorale will be accompanied by Joseph Jacovino, Jr. on piano and the Connecticut Master Chorale Holiday Brass.

St Mary Roman Catholic Church is at 24 Dodgingtown Road (Route 302), a few miles west of the Newtown-Bethel town line. Additional parking for the concert is available in the upper parking lot of Bethel High School with a free shuttle bus to and from the concert.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For tickets and information, call 743-0473 or visit CMChorale.org.