Holiday Music 2018

admin Posted OnNovember 6, 2018

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Holiday Music 2018: From Cyndi Lauper and Ronnie Spector to The Klezmatics and The Messiah, here’s a couple dozen holiday concerts in & around Armonk, Bedford, Chappaqua and at all the music halls.

November

The Wizards of Winter, Paramount Hudson Valley, Fri, 11/23: 8pm: Former members of The Trans Siberian Orchestra perform a holiday rock opera, Tales Beneath a Northern Star, based on music from their CD The Magic of Winter. This 12-piece ensemble delivers soaring vocal harmonies, precision string instrumentation, powerful percussion and stunning keyboards evoking a rich storyboard of December’s past. (1008 Brown St., Peekskill; www.paramounthudsonvalley.org)

New Choral Society, Messiah, Part I & Selections from Part II & III, Scarsdale, Fri, 11/30: 8pm & Sun, 12/2: 3pm: The Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah is the traditional season-opener for the New Choral Society. Filled with familiar and uplifting choruses and solos, including the famed “Hallelujah Chorus”, it is a festive way to begin the holiday season. (Hitchcock Presbyterian Church, 6 Greenacres Avenue, Scarsdale; www.newchoralsociety.org)

Ronnie Spector & The Rosettes, Best Christmas Party Ever, Ridgefield Playhouse, Fri, 11/30: 8pm: Ronnie Spector re-unites with The Rosettes for the first time since the 70s for this Best Xmas Party ever! Billboard magazine recently named The Ronettes (“Walking in the Rain”, “Baby I Love You”) song “Be My Baby” the Greatest Girl Group Song of All Time! (What took them so long?) (Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

December

Local! Chappaqua Orchestra Holiday Sing-Along, Bell Middle School – Sat, 12/1: 3:30pm: TCO’s assistant conductor Davis Knobloch leads the orchestra’s annual holiday sing-along followed by the New Castle Historical Society tree lighting at the Horace Greeley House. (50 Senter St., Chappaqua; www.chappaquaorchestra.org)

Michael McDonald Season of Peace, Holiday and Hits, Sun, 12/2: 7pm: Five-time Grammy-winner Michael McDonald tours to support his new release Season of Peace: The Christmas Collection. The album features a range of traditional carols (“God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman” and “Wexford Carol”); holiday standards (“Winter Wonderland”, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”); contemporary hits (“On Christmas Morning” and “Christmas on the Bayou”, and Gospel spirituals (“Children Go Where I Send Thee”). (1008 Brown St., Peekskill; www.paramounthudsonvalley.org)

Darlene Love, Paramount Hudson Valley, Wed, 12/5: 8pm: Rolling Stone called Darlene Love “one of the greatest singers of all time.” This background vocalist for The Blossoms broke through with mega-hits “He’s A Rebel” and “The Boy I’m Gonna Marry”, landing her a spot on the famous holiday album, A Christmas Gift to You from Phil Spector. Her lead on “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home” put her indelible stamp on the holiday season for generations to come. (1008 Brown St., Peekskill; www.paramounthudsonvalley.org)

The Klezmatics, Emelin Theatre, Thurs, 12/6: 7:30pm: The original Jewish roots band, these 2006 Grammy Award-winners revived a forgotten art and have raised the bar for Eastern European Jewish music for over thirty years. The subject of a recent documentary, The Klezmatics: On Holy Ground, The Klezmatics have collaborated with Itzak Perlman, playwright Tony Kushmer and Israeli vocal icon Chava Alberstein. (153 Library Ln., Mamaroneck; www.emelin.org)

Westchester All Stars Christmas for Veterans Concert ft. John Sebastian, Parmount Hudson Valley, Fri, 12/7: 8pm: John Sebastian (The Loving Spoonful) and Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge) are joined by blues and soul artist Vaneese Williams, jazz great Pet Levin, boogie-woogie piano great Scott Staton, a host of rockers and singer/songwriters and Santa, straight from Rockefeller Center at this 7th annual holiday veterans benefit. This show will honor 1st Lieutenant Victor Prato, US Army Airborne from Somers. (1008 Brown St., Peekskill; www.paramounthudsonvalley.org)

Stamford Symphony presents The Best Of Handel’s Messiah, Sat, 12/8: 8pm: Ted Sperling conducts when the Stamford Symphony takes on Part I and the Hallelujah Chorus from Part II of Handel’s classic oratorio at The Basilica of St. John The Evangelist in Stamford. “Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight and the rough places plain.” (Basilica of St. John The Evangelist, 279 Atlantic St., Stamford; www.palacestamford.org)

Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home for the Holidays, Beacon Theatre, Sat, 12/8: 8pm: Cyndi Lauper returns to the Beacon Theatre for her eight annual holiday show. Cyndi doesn’t do this alone. She will be accompanied by a star-studded cast of singers, comedians, actors and more. Past guests have included Jackson Browne, Dr. John, Sandra Bernhardt, Ani DiFranco, Ballets with a Twist, Ricky Shroeder and many more. (Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway, NYC; www.beacontheatre.com)

A Motown Christmas, Tarrytown Music Hall, Sat, 12/8: 8pm: The Motortown All-Stars feature a line-up of vocalists and musicians assembled from the ranks of The Capitols, The Miracles and The Temptations. You’ll hear all the Temptations, Four Tops, Vandellas, Jackson Five, Stevie Wonder and Supremes’ hits such as “My Girl”, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”, “Ooh Baby, Baby”, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” and holiday classics like “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “Silent Night” performed in inimitable Motown style. (13 Main St., Tarrytown; www.tarrytownmusichall.org)

Merry Christmas Darling: Carpenters’ Christmas, Paramount Hudson Valley, Sun, 12/9: 3pm: Michelle Berting Brett (and her Nashville band) shares anecdotes and recreates the sound of the 100 million-selling pop duo in this family holiday show. Michelle sings from The Carpenters’ top hits and from their two classic Christmas Albums and holiday tv specials, including their original “Merry Christmas Darling”, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”, “We’ve Only Just Begun” and more.. (1008 Brown St., Peekskill; www.paramounthudsonvalley.org)

The Messiah, Westchester Oratorio Society, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Somers, Sun, 12/9: 3pm: The Westchester Oratorio Society, Benjamin Niemczyk, artistic director, celebrates its 21st season with this performance of Handel’s Messiah. WOS’s Chamber Chorus and the St. Luke’s Choir will be accompanied by a professional instrumental ensemble and soloists. (331 Somerstown Pike, Somers; www.westchesteroratorio.org)

Christmas with The Celts, Ridgefield Playhouse, Sun, 12/9: 7:30pm: Vocalist Ric Blair and Ireland’s champion fiddler and dancer, Eimear Arkins are joined by musicians on uilleann pipes, Irish whistles, fiddle, bodhran, banjo, five-string bass, drums and of course, the crowd-pleasing Irish dancers for this evening of traditional Irish music, American pop, Irish carols and traditional Christmas favorites. (Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

The Boston Brass: Christmas Bells are Swingin’, Performing Arts Center, Sun, 12/9: 3pm: The Boston Brass quintet teams up with the Brass All-Star Big Band featuring players from around the globe for this celebration of holiday Classics. The ensemble of all brass – trumpets, French horns, trombones, and tubas, with jazz rhythm section presenst big band arrangements of Stan Kenton Christmas Carols, Greensleeves, Motown Jingle Bells, and more! (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

Carol of the King, Irish Dance Christmas Spectacular, Fri, 12/14: 8pm: Justin Boros (former lead dancer of Lord of the Dance) and 20 Irish dancers and musicians tell the epic tale of King Solomon and the dark sorceress Circe attempt to steal the throne and expel Christmas – in dance and song. Featuring state of the art lighting, fluid symphonic music, holiday favorites and explosive step dancing. (1008 Brown St., Peekskill; www.paramounthudsonvalley.org)

Rob Mathes 25th Anniversary Holiday Concert, Performing Arts Center, Fri & Sat, 12/14-15: 8pm:Rob Mathes, and his all-star rock band, choir and guests “puts a new spin on the Christmas classics.” – New York Times. Mathes has worked with virtually every big name in the music industry, arranging, producing, directing, recording, and performing with the likes of Bono, Bennett, Sting, and Springsteen. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

The Brandenburg Concertos, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Fri, 12/14: 7:30 pm, Sun, 12/16: 5pm & Tues, 12/18: 7:30pm: The Brandenburg Concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach are considered among the finest musical compositions of the Baroque era. The New York Times called The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s annual performances at Alice Tully Hall a “New York holiday staple.” Get your holiday Bach fix here. (Alice Tully Hall, 1941 Broadway; www.lincolncenter.org)

New York Polyphony, Sing Thee Nowell, Caramoor, Sat, 12/15: 4 & 7pm: This a cappella vocal quartet brings presents a program of sacred Christmas music spanning seven centuries. The Rosen House, decorated for the holidays, is open for self-guided tours between the performances. Ring in the holidays with New York Polyphony’s “rich, natural sound that’s larger and more complex than the sum of its parts” – NPR (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah: www.caramoor.org)

Jessica Lynn, A Very Merry Country Christmas, Paramount Hudson Valley, Sat, 12/15: 8pm: Westchester native, and country music star, Jessica Lynn returns to the Paramount with her holiday show. The show features dancers, singers, dazzling effects, a visit from Santa and Jessica’s country take on traditional holiday songs and contemporary favorites. (1008 Brown St., Peekskill; www.paramounthudsonvalley.org)

Bach for The Holidays, The Sanctuary Series, S. Salem, Sun, 12/16: 4pm: Anthony Newman, the internationally acclaimed keyboardist who Wynton Marsalis called the “High Priest of Bach,” performs selections from Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier; Italian Concerto, portions of the Christmas Oratorio and Sinfonia from Cantata 29, accompanied by a trio of acclaimed trumpeters. (S. Salem Presbyterian Church, 111 Spring St., S. Salem; www.thesanctuaryseries.org)

Hot Ticket Alert! Winter Pops, Rachel Worby conducts Time for Three, Performing Arts Center, Sun, 12/16: 3pm: Rachael Worby, (former Music Director of the Pasadena Pops, Wheeling Symphony, her own LA-based ensemble, Muse/ique) conducts the Westchester Phil and guests Time for Three with violists Nicolas Kendall and Charles Yang and bassist Ranaan Meyer. TFT defies genre classification, performing music from Bach to Brahms to bluegrass to the Beatles. Light classics, American Songbook gems, and holiday favorites round out the program. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.westchesterphil.org)

Editor’s Choice! A Collective Christmas with Collective Brass, Lyndhurst Mansion, Sun, 12/16: 3pm: There couldn’t be a more festive (and spectacular) setting for a holiday concert than the Lyndhurst Mansion carriage house. (Tour the mansion while you’re there.) Collective Brass performs seasonal faves, selections from The Nutcracker, new arrangement so ancient carols and The Hallelujah Chorus. (635 S. Broadway, Tarrytown; www.lyndhurst.org)

Vanessa Williams Holiday Concert, ChappPac, Tues, 12/18: 7pm: Chappaqua’s own, Vanessa Williams brings her holiday show to the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center to benefit the San Miguel Academy of Newburgh. A recording and acting star, Ms. Williams has been nominated for 11 Grammy, four Emmy and one Tony Award. Fellow Chappaqua resident and crooner extraordinaire, Frank Shiner will join her to perform Christmas faves and songs from his album Lonely Town Lonely Street. (480 Bedford Rd. Chappaqua; www.chappaquapac.org)

Glenn Miller Orchestra, In The Christmas Mood, Ridgefield Playhouse, Wed, 12/19: 7pm: It’s a night of holiday favorites with The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra! This show features classics like “Sleigh Ride”, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, “Jingle Bells”, alongside Miller staples including “Chattanooga Choo Choo”, “Moonlight Serenade”, “In the Mood” and more! (Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Cherish The Ladies, Tarrytown Music Hall, Sat, 12/22: 8pm: In their Celtic Christmas program, the Ladies put their mark on classic carols such as “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Silent Night,” in arrangements that highlight the group’s Celtic instrumentation, harmonies, and spectacular step dancing. Hailed by The New York Times, Cherish The Ladies have released three critically acclaimed holiday albums, On Christmas Night, A Star In The East, and 2015’s Christmas In Ireland. (13 Main St., Tarrytown; www.tarrytownmusichall.org)