Événement

Holly, Jolly, Gallantry: The Christmas Rose

New York-based ensemble enCANTA Collective presents HOLLY, JOLLY, GALLANTRY: THE CHRISTMAS ROSE at 5:00 pm on Sunday, December 7, at All Saints Church, 230 East 60th Street, NYC. Open to children and adults of all ages, the concert celebrates the jolly season of "Noël," featuring Frank Bridge's miracle opera The Christmas Rose, Douglas Moore's comic opera Gallantry, and a collection of Christmas songs with viola. Performers include sopranos Ashley Alden, Olivia Betzen, Liana Graffanino, Sonja Krenek, Marie Marquis, Kathryn Supina and Devony Smith; mezzo-sopranos Angelique Alexander, Mary Bonacci, Brittany Fowler, Erika Hennings, Briana Hunter and Hyuna Kim; tenors Marques Hollie and Adam Margulies; baritones Jeffrey Goble, Greg Hoyt, Kevin Miller and José Pietri-Coimbre; pianist Nobuko Amemiya; violist Ervin Dede; dancer/choreographer Danielle Harper and stage director Laura Hirschberg.

The program starts with Chansons de Noël from various parts of the world, composed by Johannes Brahms, Charles Loeffler, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Hugo Wolf, Max Reger, Joaquin Nin, Cécile Chaminade, Roger Quilter and Claude Debussy. The warm timbre of Ervin Dede's viola adorns the program with seasonal serenity. Douglas Moore's Gallantry follows, taking the inherent drama of opera to its most ridiculous extreme by combining it with the already over-the-top world of soap opera. The result is a high stakes, low brow, mad-cap medical drama, complete with commercial interruptions. The intrigues of Dr. Gregg, Nurse Lola, and Patient Douglas satirize and celebrate the bizarre and wonderful elements of opera and soap opera alike.

Filling out this diverse and entertaining evening's selections is Frank Bridge's The Christmas Rose. With simplicity and earnestness, Bridge's miracle opera depicts the nativity story from the perspective of two children. By deviating from the familiar tale of the shepherds' pilgrimage to see Christ in the manger, Bridge illuminates and refreshes the typical Christmas story themes. Miriam and Reuben's quest to find the manger and to bring the perfect gift is conveyed with clarity and delicate grandeur. A perfect way to welcome the holiday season.

Tickets are available here at www.brownpapertickets.com or reserve at encantacollective@gmail.com; by phone 917-397-0129; at the door (limited number) for $25/15 seniors & students. All Saints Church is located at 230 East 60th Street between Third and Second Avenue. For more information, please contact encantacollective@gmail.com or visit www.encantacollective.com.