HSO CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAYS

WITH

HANDEL’S

MESSIAH

AND, HOLIDAY POPS! SPECTACULAR

 Featuring performances by Hartford Chorale, Connecticut Children’s Chorus,

Vocal Soloists, Dancers from the Hartt Community Division, and more!

The Hartford Symphony Orchestra is giving the gift of music this December with two programs that celebrate the magic of the holiday season.

On Friday, December 10 and Saturday, December 11, 2010, at 8:00 PM in the intimate Belding Theater at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, the Hartford Chorale will jooin the HSO for Handel's Messiah, the ever popular Classical soundtrack for the holidays.

Led by HSO Music Director Edward Cumming, this program will feature solo performances by soprano Jihee Kim, mezzo-soprano Jennifer Feinstein, tenor Eric Barry, and bass-baritone Andrew Craig on such well-loved areas and choruses as "For Unto Us a Child is Born," the epic "Amen" chorus, "The Trumpet Shall Soound," "Every Valley Shall Be Exalted," and, of course, the "Hallelujah Chorus." Edward Cumming says, "For Messiah, we have the consierable gifts of four young singers from Yale's Opera program, plus the magnificent Hartford Chorale. Although we have performed Messiah several times during my tenure, this is my first in fifteen years, so I am excited to return to this epic masterwork."

The Hartford Chorale will once again join the HSO for Hartford’s beloved winter tradition: the HSO Holiday POPS! Spectacular on Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 3:00 and 8:00 p.m. at Mortensen Hall at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts.  Music Director Edward Cumming will take audiences through a Yule-tide adventure with Santa and Rudolph, while featuring music from The Nutcracker with ballet dancers from the Hartt Community Division; a Holiday sing-along with the Hartford Chorale and Connecticut Children’s Chorus; a breathtaking performance of O Holy Night by guest soprano Tessa Romano; as well as an assortment of festive carols and seasonal favorites including “Sleigh Ride,” “Let it Snow,” “Slalom,” and more! As an added treat, audience members will get the chance to vote via text-messaging to select one of the pieces on the program.  

The Hartford Chorale, under the direction of Richard Coffey, is the primary symphonic chorus of the Greater Hartford community, particularly in its critically acclaimed collaborations with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Through such collaborations and with other organizations, the Chorale seeks to reach and inspire the widest possible audience with exceptional performances of a broad range of choral literature, including renowned choral masterpieces.

The Connecticut Children's Chorus (CCC), under the direction of Stuart Younse, is the Hartford region's most comprehensive youth chorus program and a division of the Hartt School Community Division. CCC continues to thrive as our region's premiere children's chorus, boasting performance invitations with the region's best professional ensembles and provides strength and excellence in training Connecticut's youngest talented voices. Past activities have included performances with the Hartt Opera, CONCORA, and the Nashville Children's Chorus.

The Hartt Community Division of the University of Hartford is a comprehensive community arts school providing instruction in music and dance for individuals of all ages and experience levels. It is a division of The Hartt School, one of the seven colleges of the University of Hartford. One of the largest schools of its kind, the Community Division is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Community and Pre-College Art Schools, is an active member of National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts, and is viewed as a national model for community schools based on university campuses.  

CALENDAR LISTING:

HANDEL’S MESSIAH

with Edward Cumming, music director; The Hartford Chorale: Richard Coffey, artistic director; Jihee Kim, soprano; Jennifer Feinstein, mezzo-soprano; Eric Barry, tenor; Andrew Craig Brown, bass-baritone

Friday, December 10 & Saturday, December 11, 2010 │ 8:00 p.m.

Belding Theater │ The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts

Program: George Frederic Handel: Messiah

Ticket Information: Tickets range in price from $30-$62. Student tickets are $10. To purchase tickets or for more information, please contact HSO ticket services at (860) 244-2999 or visit www.hartfordsymphony.org.

HSO POPS! SERIES: HOLIDAY POPS! SPECTACULAR

with Edward Cumming, music director; The Hartford Chorale: Richard Coffey, artistic director; Connecticut Children’s Chorus: Stuart Younse, director;

Tessa Romano, soprano; Akemi Hisa, Emily Zaturski & Elizabeth Grande, dancers

Saturday, December 18, 2010 │ 3:00 & 8:00 p.m.

Mortensen Hall │ The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts

Program: Holiday favorites including: White Christmas, Silent Night, Let it Snow, Winter Wonderland, selections from The Nutcracker, Slalom, Sleigh Ride, A Holly Jolly Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and more!

Ticket Information: Single tickets range in price from $30-$62. Student tickets are $10. To purchase tickets or for more information, please contact HSO ticket services at (860) 244-2999 or visit www.hartfordsymphony.org.

The Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s 2010-2011 season is sponsored by St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center. The 2010-2011 POPS! series is presented by United Technologies Corporation. The Hartford Symphony Orchestra receives major support from the Greater Hartford Arts Council, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism.