For loyal followers of the Everett Chorale, December just wouldn’t feel like Christmas without the 80-voice choir’s annual holiday concert.
The chorale, under the direction of Lee Mathews, offers “Here We Come A-Wassailing” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave.
“We have great audiences who make our Christmas concert the start to their holiday season,” Mathews said. “And, for us, these performances are the start of our 48th concert season as a community choir. Our theme this year is ‘At Home and Abroad.’ We begin with English Christmas traditions.”
The hand bell choirs from two Everett churches, First Presbyterian and Our Savior’s Lutheran, plan to help open the concert, which includes English carols such as “Once in Royal David’s City” and “What Child Is This?”
Contemporary anthems by John Rutter and David Willcocks, in the style of a traditional Church of England Lessons and Carol Service, are on the program as well.
In the second half, the chorale is set to perform carols such as “Deck the Hall” and “The Holly and the Ivy,” as well as “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” The goal is a mood reminiscent of an old English dinner, complete with wassail drinking and rushing to the door to hear the carolers, Mathews said.
“Here We Come A-Wassailing” is the first of three subscription concerts. In July, members of the chorale plan to travel to Paris and London to perform concerts there. The choir’s June “bon voyage” concert in Everett will have a focus on French music, Mathews said.
Tickets are $16 for regular admission or $14 for seniors, students and those in the military.
Season tickets and individual concert tickets are available at the Everett Performing Arts Center downtown Everett box office between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and by calling 425-257-8600. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more, and those buying a season ticket get one concert free. More information is at www.everettchorale.org.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
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