Holiday music is a subtle art. For some people, energetic carols and traditional Christmas tunes are the seasonal fare. Others go in for more subdued sacred choral works, while yet others prefer a variety of classical favorites. Whatever your preference, Santa Fe has something for you. Here is a selection of some of the holiday offerings available for the seasonally musical-minded. Also be sure to check out SFR’s caroling article.
New Mexico Gay Men’s Chorus
569-0139, nmgmc.org
The New Mexico Gay Men’s Chorus presents Vignettes of Christmas, a holiday concert of short musical pieces: “The Bells,” “’Tis the Season,” “Christmas Gaiety” and more.
7 pm Saturday, Dec. 18. $15-$20. First Presbyterian Church, 208 Grant St.
Sangre de Cristo Chorale
473-4200, sdcchorale.org
For its Celebrating Children concert, the Sangre de Cristo Chorale performs John Rutter’s Mass of the Children.
2:30 pm Sunday, Nov. 14. $20 general admission; students 18-and-under free. Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Community, 11 College Ave.
Santa Fe Community Orchestra
466-4879, sfco.org
The Santa Fe Community Orchestra’s Winter Concert features Gioacchino Rossini’s Overture to “William Tell”; Darius Milhaud’s Concerto No. 1 for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 136; and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances,
Op. 45.
2:30 pm Sunday, Dec. 5. Free. St. Francis Auditorium, 107 W. Palace Ave.
Santa Fe Concert Association
984-8759, santafeconcerts.org
The Santa Fe Concert Association presents Beethoven and Rossini: Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, Rossini overtures and arias sung by tenor Richard Croft.
5 pm Friday, Dec. 24. $20-$84. Lensic Performing Arts Center, 211 W. San Francisco St.
Santa Fe Desert Chorale
988-7505, desertchorale.org
At the Santa Fe Desert Chorale’s Winter Festival 2010: Carols and Lullabies, you can enjoy both—in Baroque, Renaissance and classical styles.
8 pm Friday, Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 17, 20 and 21. $20-$55. Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, 213 Cathedral Place
Santa Fe Men’s Camerata
466-3637,
santafemenscamerata.com
The Zia Singers & Santa Fe Men’s Camerata collaborate for the first time in six years for their first-ever Christmas show.
8 pm Saturday, Dec. 4; 4 pm Sunday, Dec. 5. $20 adults; students free. Scottish Rite Temple, 463 Paseo de Peralta
Santa Fe Opera
986-5900, santafeopera.org
The Santa Fe Opera Singers present Arias, Carols and Songs.
6 pm Thursday, Dec. 9. Free. Cristo Rey Church, 1120 Canyon Road
Santa Fe Pro Musica
988-4640, santafepromusica.com
Santa Fe Pro Musica goes back in time for A Baroque Christmas. Seating is reserved, so be sure to call in advance.
6 pm and 8 pm Sunday, Dec. 19; Tuesday-Friday, Dec. 21-24; and Sunday, Dec. 26. Dec. 24 $20-$70; all other nights $15-$65. Loretto Chapel, 207 Old Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe Symphony and Chorus
983-3530, sf-symphony.org
The Santa Fe Symphony and Chorus hosts two holiday shows. Christmas Delights is full of old-timey Christmas favorites. And Carols & Choruses includes such high-profile pieces as Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” and Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite.
Christmas Delights: 7 pm Tuesday,
Dec. 16. Free. Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, 213 Cathedral Place. Carols & Choruses: 4 pm Sunday, Dec. 19. $20-$70. Lensic Performing Arts Center, 211 W. San Francisco St.
Santa Fe Women’s Ensemble
954-4922, sfwe.org
The Santa Fe Women’s Ensemble presents the aptly named A Christmas Offering.
7:30 pm Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 11 and 12; Friday and Saturday, Dec. 17 and 18. $20-$35. Loretto Chapel, 207 Old Santa Fe Trail
Schola Cantorum of Santa Fe
474-2815, schola-sf.org
Schola Cantorum of Santa Fe presents El Niño—The Christ Child, traditional religious songs of northern New Mexico and Spain. For Noël Nouvelet—The First Christmas, it offers up a collection of holiday music, old and new.
El Niño: 7 pm Saturday, Dec. 11. Free. San Miguel Mission, 401 Old Santa Fe Trail. Noël Nouvelet: 7 pm Sunday, Dec. 19. Free. Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 417 Agua Fria St.
