Hark! The Belleville choruses will sing at weekend concerts

Sunday is D-Day for three Belleville-area choruses aiming to get people in the Christmas spirit.

The Belleville Philharmonic Chorale and Orchestra, Metro East Community Chorale and Masterworks Chorale and Children’s Choruses all are performing concerts.

Philharmonic Chorale and Orchestra

The music kicks off at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Belleville with the Philharmonic’s “Christmas Wonders” concert. It features “a kaleidoscope of music from Europe, Africa and America,” beginning with Mozart’s “Regina Coeli.”

“It’s a very vivid piece for both chorus and orchestra,” said Robert Howard, conductor and music director. “It’s definitely a classic.”

Also on the program are Tomas Victoria’s haunting 16th-century a cappella work “Ava Maria,” Morten Lauridsen’s “O Magnum Mysterium” sung in Latin, Daniel Pinkham’s festive “Christmas Cantata” with a brass ensemble and Benjamin Britten’s “A Hymn to the Virgin.”

The Philharmonic will take on “The Darkest Midnight in December,” a new choral work by New York City composer Stephen Main about the night Jesus was born.

“It has an exotic flavor, and it creates just a wonderful mood,” Howard said. “It really has the feeling that something is taking place in the middle of the night.”

The Philharmonic will perform a favorite African piece in English and Swahili. “Hosana, Aja Kwa Jina la Yesu” (“Hosana in the Name of Jesus”) was written by a Baptist minister and composer from Kenya.

Perhaps most notable will be the premiere of an arrangement by Chorale member Dr. Charles DuMontier, a radiologist at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.

“Christ is Born” is the third Christmas piece he has written for the Philharmonic since 2011. It’s a modern medley of folk carols, such as “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “Angels We have Heard on High.”

“It’s very exciting for me,” said Charles, 63, of Belleville. “I think everyone agrees that it’s a fun piece, mainly because of all the familiar themes in it.”

The Philharmonic will end the concert with its traditional finale, Franz Gruber’s “Silent Night,” followed by Christmas caroling with the audience.

Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for senior citizens and active military or $10 for students at the door ($15, $12 or $7 in advance at Happy Hop Homebrew and Gourmet, Fletcher’s Kitchen and Tap, 618-235-5600 or www.bellevillephilharmonic.org).

Metro East Community Chorale

Metro East Community Chorale will present a Christmas concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Church of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville. A 15-piece orchestra will accompany the 55-member chorus.

The Chorale usually covers a variety of styles and periods at the annual concert, but this year director Steve Wilson decided to go with familiar pop songs such as “Sleigh Ride,” “Winter Wonderland” and “I’ll be Home for Christmas.”

“They’re songs everybody can tap their toes to,” he said. “And with the orchestra, it will be just like you’re hearing them on the radio.”

The exception to the pop genre will be an arrangement of “Deck the Halls” with a “surprise ending.” The concert is free and open to the public (donations welcome).

Masterworks Chorale

“A Masterworks Christmas” concert is at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at St. Clare Catholic Church in O’Fallon under the direction of Stephen Mager.

It will feature solo performances by professional singers who serve as section leaders, as well as harpist Megan Stout and the Masterworks Children’s Choruses.

One highlight will be Benjamin Britten’s ethereal “A Ceremony of Carols.” The concert also will feature traditional Christmas favorites, a candlelight procession and an audience sing-along.

“The Chorale will be singing several pieces composed by and arranged by Mager, who is an accomplished composer and well-known throughout the country,” according to a press release.

Stout began studying harp at age 9 in Philadelphia. Now living in the St. Louis area, she has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in harp performance.

Concert admission is $15 in advance or $20 at the door for adults ($5 or $10 for students and active military). Tickets are available from chorus members or at 618-304-9094. For more information, visit www.singmasterworks.org.

This story was originally published December 9, 2015 at 3:48 AM with the headline "Hark! The Belleville choruses will sing at weekend concerts."