November 30, 2000|By Mary Johnson | Mary Johnson,SPECIAL TO THE SUN
Opportunities abound for folks who want to celebrate the holiday season with music. Concerts covering a wide musical spectrum are being offered throughout the coming weeks.
Sunday, the Arundel Vocal Arts Society and its music and artistic director, Glenette Schumacher, will present Puccini's rarely performed "Messa di Gloria." Written when the composer was 19, the work was discovered by a musical scholar in 1950. Critically acclaimed in 1952, Puccini's Mass praises God with a dramatic exultation that anticipates his later operatic arias.
AVAS will perform the Mass and holiday carols at 3 p.m. at St. Martin's Lutheran Church, 1120 Spa Road in Annapolis. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling 410-268-3131.
Anne Arundel Community College will present four holiday concerts, beginning with a "Winter Music Potpourri" program at 7:30 p.m. Sunday by the AACC Concert Band conducted by Ray Ascione. It will feature holiday and traditional music.
The AACC Jazz Ensemble, also conducted by Ascione, will feature big band and jazz in "December Jazz Fest" on Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
The AACC Concert Choir, with soprano Julie Duerichen, mezzo soprano Jennifer Blades, tenor Vijay Joshua Ghosh and baritone Josef Surewiec, all soloists who have performed with the Baltimore or Washington operas, will perform in "Gloria and Hallelujah" conducted by Douglas Brandt Byerly on Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m.
The AACC Orchestra, under the direction of Michael Svec, will perform symphonic works including Franz Schubert's "Unfinished Symphony" and Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings" at 3 p.m. Dec. 10. All AACC concerts will be at the Pascal Center for the Performing Arts on the Arnold Campus. Tickets are $5 general admission, $4 for seniors and children under 13, and $3 for AACC students and staff. Call 410-315-7019 for information or buy tickets at the door.
At 7:30 p.m. Monday, the U.S. Naval Academy Women's Glee Club will present their annual Christmas concert in Memorial (Bancroft) Hall. The concert is free, and no tickets are needed, but it is advisable to arrive early for good seats.
J. Ernest Green and the Annapolis Chorale will present their annual holiday pops concert "Celebration of Christmas" on Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. "Christmas is for Kids," with surprise guests including Maestro Green in the role of the Dragon, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at Maryland Hall. Handel's "Messiah" will be performed at St. Anne's Episcopal Church at 8 p.m. Dec. 16 and at 3 p.m. Dec. 17.
The Annapolis Chorale will present two performances of Gian-Carlo Menotti's "Amahl and the Night Visitors" at St. Anne's at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15, with a pre-show lecture. A family performance will be offered at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 16. Call the Annapolis Chorale office at 410-263-1906 for more information and to order tickets.
The holiday season will be brightened for many sick children because of the Annapolis Vocal Corps, a seven-member a cappella group that will hold its annual Christmas benefit concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Fleet Reserve Club in downtown Annapolis. Tickets are $12 each with the entire proceeds going to the Johns Hopkins Children's Cancer Center. To reserve tickets, call Paul Michael Nathan at 301-919-7322 or e-mail at pmnathan@excite.com.
The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra will present its Holiday Pops concert at 8 p.m. on Dec.15 with guest conductor Donald Pippin, music director of Radio City Music Hall. Teri Hansen will sing show tunes, and the program will feature favorites ranging from Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" to Leroy Anderson's "Sleighride." Tickets are $27 to $32 and can be ordered by calling the symphony box office at 410-263-0907.
The Annapolis Brass Quintet will present "Byrd and Brass Christmas Concert" honoring the late guitarist Charlie Byrd on Dec. 17 at St. Anne's Church. Call 410-757-2927 to order tickets.
