Grammy Award-winner Cynthia Clawson to Perform in CHRISTMAS AT THE VILLA 12/08-16

Once again, the Houston Chamber Choir presents two concerts that have become community traditions for Christmastime; For Unto Us, featuring Handel's classic Messiah, Saturday, December 8, at 7:30 pm at The Church of St. John the Divine (2450 River Oaks Blvd.) and Christmas at the Villa, featuring Grammy Award-winning vocalist Cynthia Clawson, Saturday, December 15 and Sunday, December 16 at 3:30 and 7:30 pm at the Chapel of the Villa de Matel (6510 Lawndale Ave.).

Tickets for both concerts are $40 and $36 for seniors. For more information on the Houston Chamber Choir, or for ticket sales, visit the Choir web site at www.houstonchamberchoir.org or call (713) 224-5566.

For Unto Us
Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 7:30 pm
The Church of St. John the Divine
2450 River Oaks Boulevard, Houston, TX 77019

The Houston Chamber Choir opens the holiday season with Baroque classics, the Christmas portion of George Frideric Handel's masterpiece Messiah and Marc-Antoine Charpentier's Midnight Mass for Christmas. Also on the program is Antonio Vivaldi's Concerto in C Major for 2 Trumpets and Strings. Premiered in April 1742, George Frideric Handel's classic oratorio Messiah recounts the entire life of Christ, but it is the Christmas portion that has become a December tradition worldwide. The Chamber Choir will perform this along with Marc-Antoine Charpentier's Messe de Minuit pour Noël (Midnight Mass for Christmas.) In this setting of the Mass, Charpentier draws on the melodies of French Christmas carols, or noëls, from the time of Louis XIV.  The concert will also include the fanfare-like effects of Vivaldi's Conceto for Two Trumpets in C Major, his only concerto to feature trumpets.

Christmas at the Villa
With Cynthia Clawson
Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 3:30 and 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 16, 2012 at 3:30 and 7:30 pm
Chapel of the Villa de Matel, 6510 Lawndale Avenue, Houston, TX 77023

Christmas at the Villa has become a Houston holiday tradition. The Chapel of the Villa de Matel, built in 1928, is modeled after old Northern Italian basilicas and when paired with the voices of the Houston Chamber Choir produces a radiant musical experience. This year's program will feature performances of familiar carols in fresh arrangements, along with new works for the season. Houston Chamber Choir is pleased to welcome special guest artist Cynthia Clawson to this year's concert. Described as "a singer's singer," Clawson has received a Grammy and five Dove awards for her work as a songwriter, vocal artist and musician. Her career has spanned over four decades with 22 recordings. Christmas at the Villa matinee performances will also feature The Treble Choir of Houston at Christ Church Cathedral, directed by Marianna Parnas-Simpson, comprised of children from the greater Houston community.

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