Sonoma area holiday concerts highlighted by ‘Angelic Voices’

The crystalline beauty of the human voice will add an angelic touch to the Santa Rosa Symphony program this weekend, as Music Director Bruno Ferrandis leads a vocal program ranging from a cappella choral music to a Mozart mass.

It’s the first time that the symphony has invited a 50-voice choir - the Augsburg Cathedral Boys’ Choir directed by Reinhard Kammler - to perform with them. The choir, based in southwest Germany, was originally founded in 1439, when the pure sound of prepubescent boys’ voices was sought after as a substitute for women’s soprano voices in church music. The choir was revived in 1976.

“We are going to hear those boys a cappella, and then we’re going to hear them blended with the orchestra,” Ferrandis said during a phone interview from Paris. “There will be many different textures and colors.”

As a contrast to the sacred Mozart work, Ferrandis will conclude the program with Stravinsky’s neo-classical “Pulcinella” for soprano, tenor, bass and orchestra.

The work, based on pieces by Giovanni Pergolesi and other Baroque composers, is a “solitary gem,” Ferrandis said, because it’s impossible to classify.

“This piece is a ballet, but it’s also a piece for orchestra, and it’s a theater piece, because it has voice,” he said. “But it’s not quite an oratorio, because there’s no chorus. So it’s bizarre.”

Based on the story of an Italian comedic hero, Pulcinella, and his amorous adventures, the work will feature a trio of young operatic stars: mezzo-soprano Kindra Scharich, tenor Jonathan Smucker and bass Kirk Eichelberger.

They will be accompanied by two ensembles: a solo quintet of strings, and a larger chamber orchestra of strings, winds and brass. The vocalists sing in a reworked, Neapolitan dialect, underscoring the work’s earthy roots.

“It’s about love and the mistress, so it’s very profane and unholy,” Ferrandis said. “It is a complete contrast with the Coronation Mass of Mozart.”

The Coronation Mass will feature four vocal soloists as well as the boys’ choir. The challenge will be to perform Mozart in the right style, with good articulation and a sensitive blend between orchestra and chorus.

“We are now in a very pristine hall, so we have to color it and be careful not to overpower the voices,” he said. “There’s no fugue in the mass... It’s really simple and brief. It doesn’t last over 30 minutes.”

The concert will open with six pieces sung a cappella by the boys’ choir, including German, English and Italian works. This part of the program concludes with Friedrich Silcher’s “In dulci Jubilo” (“Christmas Song for Five Voices), better known in the English-speaking world as “Good Christian Men, Rejoice.”

The Santa Rosa Symphony’s “Angelic Voices” concerts will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 6), 3 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 7) and 8 p.m. Monday (Dec. 8) at the Green Music Center’s Weill Hall on the Sonoma State University campus (Petaluma Hill Road and Rohnert Park Expressway). Tickets are $20-$80. 546-8742 or santarosasymphony.com. Ferrandis will give a pre-concert talk with guest artists one hour before each performance.

There are other choral ensembles performing holiday concerts in Sonoma County this season:

Cantiamo Sonoma, an a cappella choral group directed by soprano Carol Menke, will present a Christmas Concert at 8 p.m. Friday at St. Seraphim Church (90 Mountain View Ave., Santa Rosa.) The program features works by Palestrina, Joshua Shank and others. Tickets are $15-$20 general, $10 to $12 students. Preferred seating is $25, in advance only. Advance tickets can be purchased at Corrick’s in Santa Rosa or at the door. 542-0452. cantiamosonoma.org.

The Sonoma County Chamber Singers will present “Tidings ... of Great Song” at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the United Church of Cloverdale (430 N. Cloverdale Blvd.) The program includes everything from Monteverdi’s Old World harmonies to new classics by Eric Whitacre. The concert is free but donations accepted.

The Occidental Community Choir, known for performing original music composed by its members, will present “I Dreamed of Rain” at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Occidental Center for the Arts (Graton Road and Bohemian Highway), 3 p.m. Sunday at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts (282 S. High St.), 8 p.m. Dec. 12 and 13 at the Occidental Center for the Arts, and 3 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Glaser Center (547 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa). Tickets are $15, available at the door or at occidentalchoir.org.

The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus presents its annual “Home for the Holidays” concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts (50 Mark West Springs Rd.). The program will feature appearances by Santa and his elves, an ugly sweater parade, traditional favorites and a world premiere by contemporary composer Ola Gjeilo. Tickets are $25 to $50, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit Face To Face. Tickets: Wells Fargo box office or wellsfargocenterarts.org.

The Santa Rosa Symphonic Chorus in collaboration with the North Bay Sinfonietta will present “A Vintage Christmas: Sounds of the Season” at 3 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Santa Rosa Bible Church (4575 Badger Rd., Santa Rosa). The program includes Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Fantasia on a Christmas Carol,” and other holiday favorites. $15, available at Stanroy Music Center and Copperfield’s Books, both in Santa Rosa, or online at santarosasymphonicchorus.com.

The 21st annual Sing-Along Messiah will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Sebastopol United Methodist Church (500 N. Main St.) The event features a string quartet and vocal soloists. There will be a limited number of scores on loan. Tickets are $6, or $15 for a family up to four. 829-4797.

The Healdsburg Chorus will present three performances of their holiday concert, “Sleigh Bells Ring,” in Santa Rosa and Healdsburg. The concerts will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Glaser Center (547 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa), 3 p.m. Dec. 14 and 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Healdsburg Community Church (1100 University St.). Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door; available at Copperfield’s Book Store in Healdsburg. 838-4557.

The Valley of the Moon Chamber Ensemble will present two holiday benefit concerts for the Sonoma Community Center at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Madrone Family Vineyards (tickets are $100, including pre-concert reception with appetizers and wine at 5 p.m.) and 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church (tickets are $30, and include coffee and cookie reception afterwards.) To reserve, call 938-4626, ext. 1, or go to svbo.org.

The Sonoma Bach Choir will present “Early Music Christmas: Song of the Morning Star,” at 8 p.m. Dec. 12 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church (16290 Arnold Dr. in Sonoma) and 8 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Green Music Center’s Schroeder Hall in Rohnert Park (Petaluma Hill Road and Rohnert Park Expressway). Tickets are $22 general, $20 seniors, $14 students. sonomabach.org.

The Sonoma Valley Chorale will present, “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 and 2 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Hall, 126 First Street West. Single tickets are $22 adults, $18 seniors and students, $12 kids 10 and under. 935-1576, at the UPS store or Pharmaca in Sonoma, or at the door. sonomavalleychorale.org.

The all-male, a cappella vocal ensemble Chanticleer will present “A Chanticleer Christmas,” at 6 and 8:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at St. Vincent’s Church in Petaluma. The program ranges from world premieres of new works to Renaissance music and signature arrangements of traditional carols and spirituals. Tickets are $30 to $65. chanticleer.org or 415-392-4400.

The Cinnabar Singers will present a holiday concert at 2 p.m. Dec. 14 at the United Church of Christ (825 Middlefield Dr., Petaluma). The program includes Benjamin Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols,” Vivaldi’s “Gloria” and other favorites. Tickets are $15 adults, $10 for youth 21 and under. cinnabartheater.org.

The Santa Rosa Symphonic Chorus and the Santa Rosa Chamber Orchestra move to a new venue this year for the 34th annual Redwood Empire Sing-Along Messiah led by Dan Earl. It will be held at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 at the Sonoma Country Day School (4400 Day School Place, Santa Rosa.) Tickets are $20, available at the door or in advance from srsymphonyleague.com or the Stanroy Music Center (640 Fourth St., Santa Rosa) . 522-8786.

The American Bach Soloists directed by Jeffrey Thomas present Handel’s oratorio, “Messiah,” at 3 p.m. Dec. 21 at the Green Music Center’s Weill Hall at Sonoma State University (Petaluma Hill Road and Rohnert Park Expressway.) Tickets are $45 to $115. gmc.sonoma.edu. 1-866-955-6040.

Staff writer Diane Peterson can be reached at 521-5287 or diane.peterson@pressdemocrat.com