Christmas 2024 Concert – Light

Sunday, December 1, 2024
5:00 PM
Walnut Hills Baptist Church,
1014 Jamestown Road,
Williamsburg VA 23185

Due to conflicts by several of the performing artists, this will be the only 2024 Christmas Concert presented by Cantori this year, and you don’t want to miss it!

The theme for this year’s concert is Light – the Light of the World as embodied in the birth of Christ, as well as the Star of Bethlehem, which led the Magi to worship him.  Every piece on the program will relate to Light in some aspect.  The centerpiece of the concert is the brand new extended work Illuminare, composed by Elaine Hagenberg, one of the rising stars of choral composition in our time.  Using texts by Saint Ambrose, Hildegarde von Bingen, Pope Gregory, and texts from the Bible, she weaves together a narrative of the emergence of light and peace in our lives.  It is beautiful music and will be accompanied by a professional string quintet and piano.

Not only will Elaine Hagenberg’s music form the centerpiece of the program, her music will both begin the program, with her haunting arrangement of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, as well as end the program, with her innovative setting of Silent Night, which she has entitled Love’s Pure Light.

Other pieces on the program include the familiar There Shall a Star from Jacob Come Forth, from Mendelssohn’s oratorio Christus, and Morten Lauridsen’s masterpiece O Nata Lux, one of two a cappella pieces on the program.  All the other works will be accompanied by the string ensemble.

Tickets may be reserved for will-call by sending a check to Cantori Choral Ensemble, 3341 Derby Lane, Williamsburg, 23185.  Advance ticket prices are $15 for adults and $5 for students.  Tickets sold at the door will be $20 for adults at $10 for students.

We look forward to seeing you in the audience!