WQXR Presents Classical Up Close: Cantus In THREE TALES OF CHRISTMAS

On Tuesday, December 5 at 7pm, WQXR will celebrate the holiday season with a special evening of music featuring acclaimed men's vocal ensemble, Cantus.

In their only New York appearance this season, Cantus - hailed as "intellectually, emotionally and musically rich" by the Star Tribune - revisits "A Christmas Carol," "Gift of the Magi," and "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" through arrangements of familiar carols alongside beautiful contemporary works.

Hosted by WQXR's Jeff Spurgeon, "Three Tales of Christmas" evokes the meaning and joy of the holidays with fresh perspective and just the right amount of nostalgia.

IF YOU GO:

WQXR Presents Classical Up Close: Cantus in "Three Tales of Christmas"

WHEN: Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at 7pm

WHERE: The Greene Space, 44 Charlton Street, New York, NY (corner of Varick Street)

HOW: Tickets are $35, available at thegreenespace.org

Cantus is known for its trademark warmth and blend, innovative programming and engaging performances of music ranging from the Renaissance to the 21st century. Working without a conductor, the members of Cantus rehearse and perform as chamber musicians, each contributing to the entirety of the artistic process. Cantus performs more than 60 concerts each year in national and international touring, and in its home of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota and has released 17 albums on its self-titled label.

The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space is the street-level broadcast studio and performance venue of WNYC and WQXR that produces special live editions of WNYC programs and WQXR concerts and festivals, as well as original programming, including theater events, arts and culture conversation series, political debates and audio theater. It serves as a place for experimentation, cultural discovery and dialogue. For more information, visit www.thegreenespace.org

WQXR 105.9 FM, which streams live at www.wqxr.org, is New York City's only all-classical music station, immersing listeners in the city's rich musical life. WQXR presents new and landmark classical recordings as well as live concerts from Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, among other venues. WQXR also broadcasts essential destination programs including New York Philharmonic This Week and Young Artists Showcase. For listeners in search of the new, WQXR operates Q2 Music, an online music stream dedicated to contemporary classical composers, cross-genre adventures, and performances from New York City's edgier venues. Operavore is WQXR's opera site featuring news, interviews, and commentaries from the world of opera, as well as a 24/7 all-opera stream. WQXR.org provides essential playlist information and online listening, as well as original content, host blogs, NYC cultural news, and videos. The station's free mobile app allows listeners to take WQXR with them wherever they go. As a public radio station, WQXR is supported by the generosity of its members and sponsors, making classical music relevant, accessible and inspiring for listeners in New York City and around the globe.

The "engaging" (New Yorker) men's vocal ensemble Cantus is widely known for its trademark warmth and blend, innovative programming and engaging performances of music ranging from the Renaissance to the 21st century. The Washington Post has hailed the Cantus sound as having both "exalting finesse" and "expressive power." As one of the nation's few full-time vocal ensembles, Cantus has grown in prominence with its distinctive approach to creating music. Working without a conductor, the members of Cantus rehearse and perform as chamber musicians, each contributing to the entirety of the artistic process. Cantus performs more than 60 concerts each year both in national and international touring, and in its home of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. The ensemble is heard frequently on classical and public radio nationwide and as regular guests on A Prairie Home Companion and on Performance Today. Cantus has also released 18 recordings on the group's self-titled label. Committed to the expansion of the vocal music repertoire, Cantus actively commissions new music and seeks to unearth rarely performed repertoire for men's voices. Integral to the Cantus mission is its commitment to preserve and deepen music education in the schools. Cantus works with more than 5,000 students each year in master class and workshop settings across the country.