Musical Merriment for the Holidays
BY IVAN MOORE
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In December 2006, when the Stockton Symphony Association last presented a holiday season performance, the program was markedly different from the fare usually offered at the Symphony’s annual holiday concert. Rather than family-friendly Christmas carols and seasonal songs, the Symphony and Stockton Chorale offered the bulk of Handel’s magnificent – and often overwhelming – Messiah.
But Musical Director and Conductor Peter Jaffe had already noted a decline in attendance over the last two holiday shows, and began to think such a highbrow presentation may not be the ideal choice for the Symphony’s holiday offering.
“The symphony had been losing money on the [holiday] concert for the last few years,” says Jaffe. “We just wouldn’t quite meet the need of expenses in mounting such a program.”
The result was a year without the holiday collaboration between the Symphony and the Stockton Chorale.
On Dec. 14, however, the area’s premier musical organizations will return with Holiday Pops, a redesigned program that Jaffe and his longtime friend Stockton Chorale Musical Director Dr. Ted Cetto promise is pure fun for the entire family.
“We’ve made the program this year more user-friendly then ever,” Cetto says.
The goal, Jaffe explains, is to produce a holiday show with enough variety and gusto to attract casual and regular Symphony patrons alike, and to reinvigorate public interest in attending such performances annually.
The program features Los Angeles-based tenor and former New York City Opera member Dennis McNeil lending his vocals to collaborations with the Chorale and on solo performances of season standards “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and “White Christmas,” among others.
Under the auspices of Musical Director Joan Colonico, Stockton’s Youth Chorale will step into the spotlight for renditions from Polar Express and a joint effort with the Chorale on Ariel Ramirez’s Missa Criolla, a Latin-tinged a cappella piece.
Also planned are crowd singalongs of traditional carols and favorite contemporary holiday tunes, along with a few melodious surprises.
There are also rumors of an appearance from a certain white-bearded denizen of the North Pole.
And Handel enthusiasts need not be dismayed: Jaffe promises a coda featuring the famous “Hallelujah” chorus from Messiah.
But Musical Director and Conductor Peter Jaffe had already noted a decline in attendance over the last two holiday shows, and began to think such a highbrow presentation may not be the ideal choice for the Symphony’s holiday offering.
“The symphony had been losing money on the [holiday] concert for the last few years,” says Jaffe. “We just wouldn’t quite meet the need of expenses in mounting such a program.”
The result was a year without the holiday collaboration between the Symphony and the Stockton Chorale.
On Dec. 14, however, the area’s premier musical organizations will return with Holiday Pops, a redesigned program that Jaffe and his longtime friend Stockton Chorale Musical Director Dr. Ted Cetto promise is pure fun for the entire family.
“We’ve made the program this year more user-friendly then ever,” Cetto says.
The goal, Jaffe explains, is to produce a holiday show with enough variety and gusto to attract casual and regular Symphony patrons alike, and to reinvigorate public interest in attending such performances annually.
The program features Los Angeles-based tenor and former New York City Opera member Dennis McNeil lending his vocals to collaborations with the Chorale and on solo performances of season standards “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and “White Christmas,” among others.
Under the auspices of Musical Director Joan Colonico, Stockton’s Youth Chorale will step into the spotlight for renditions from Polar Express and a joint effort with the Chorale on Ariel Ramirez’s Missa Criolla, a Latin-tinged a cappella piece.
Also planned are crowd singalongs of traditional carols and favorite contemporary holiday tunes, along with a few melodious surprises.
There are also rumors of an appearance from a certain white-bearded denizen of the North Pole.
And Handel enthusiasts need not be dismayed: Jaffe promises a coda featuring the famous “Hallelujah” chorus from Messiah.
Information:
Singalongs of traditional carols and favorite holiday tunes, along with melodious surprises
Sunday, December 14 at 3:00 p.m.
Atherton Auditorium, San Joaquin Delta College
Stockton Symphony: www.stocktonsymphony.org
(209) 957-0196
Stockton Chorale: www.stocktonchorale.org
(209) 957-6494
Sunday, December 14 at 3:00 p.m.
Atherton Auditorium, San Joaquin Delta College
Stockton Symphony: www.stocktonsymphony.org
(209) 957-0196
Stockton Chorale: www.stocktonchorale.org
(209) 957-6494