The San Francisco Symphony Announces Annual Holiday Concert Season

The San Francisco Symphony's 2016 holiday season at Davies Symphony Hall offers a festive array of concerts for all ages, from its traditional Christmas classical concerts to classic pop vocalists Gladys Knight and Patti Austin performing with the Orchestra; favorite films like Singin' in the Rain, The Snowman, and a Rodgers and Hammerstein music and film night; family-friendly events like A Charlie Brown Christmas-Live!,the circus feats of Cirque de la Symphonie, and the Orchestra's annual Deck the Hall concerts for children. Traditional Christmas and holiday music lovers can enjoy presentations such as Handel's Messiah, Holiday Brass, and A Classic Christmas. Linda Ronstadt narrates Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf with the SF Symphony Youth Orchestra, Mariachi Sol De México® de José Hernàndez presents A Merri-achi Christmas, and the a cappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock brings its unique and uplifting holiday show. To ring in the new year, television and Broadway stars Jane Krakowski and Tituss Burgess (of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and 30 Rock fame) join the SF Symphony in their first-ever concert collaboration.

The festivities start when vocalist Patti Austin brings the iconic music of Ella Fitzgerald to Davies Symphony Hall on November 30, with conductor Edwin Outwater leading the Orchestra. R&B legend Gladys Knight sings her classic hits and holiday songs December 12 and 13 with the Orchestra, led by Gail Deadrick. Sweet Honey in the Rock brings its soulful a cappella blend of inspiring songs on December 23. As they have done for over 30 years, Sweet Honey in the Rock's performances include a Sign Language Interpreter in order to make their music and message accessible to the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

For those who love the classical music associated with the Christmas season, on December 7 and 8 the SF Symphony performs A Classic Christmas, which offers works by some of the greatest composers reflecting on holiday traditions, including selections from Britten's A Ceremony of Carols, Tchaikovsky's Suite from The Nutcracker, and selections from Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. The SFS is led by SFS Resident Conductor Christian Reif, and is joined by the Pacific Boychoir. Other classical music holiday concerts include Holiday Brass featuring members of the SF Symphony brass section led by Edwin Outwater onDecember 11, and performances of Handel's Messiah December 15­-17, conducted by Patrick Dupré Quigley and featuring soprano Lauren Snouffer, countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, tenor Zachary Wilder, and bass-baritone Christian Van Horn.

As always, the Symphony's holiday line-up also includes several programs particularly well-suited for children and families, starting with two Deck the Hall concerts on December 4. This festive children's concert and party features Symphony musicians and special guests, including the San Francisco Boys Chorus, San Francisco Ballet School trainees, members of Beach Blanket Babylon, TURFInc. dancers, and the Young Women's Choral Project. On December 11, the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra performs Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf with guest narrator Linda Ronstadt, who returns to perform with the SFSYO for the first time since 2009. Led by new Wattis Foundation Music Director Christian Reif, the SFSYO also performs favorite holiday repertoire. Also on December 11, the ever-popular presentation of A Merri-Achi Christmas returns, with Mariachi Sol De México® de José Hernàndez performing its blend of Mexican and American holiday favorites.

On December 14, the acrobats, strongmen, and performing artists of Cirque de la Symphonie join the SF Symphony musicians for a holiday show, executing their jaw-dropping feats to the thrilling music of composers like Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, Bizet, and others, mixed with plenty of holiday hits. The Snowman film, the 1982 animated gem from DiAnne Jackson, plays on the big screen as the Orchestra performs the live score in accompaniment in the Christmas Spectacular concerts December 16-18. Tony Award-winning actress and vocalist Ruthie Ann Miles joins the Orchestra and conductor Randall Craig Fleischer for holiday songs and sing-a-longs, and the Pacific Boychoir also performs.

A Charlie Brown Christmas-Live! returns December 21­-24 with seven performances by the Orchestra of Vince Guaraldi's score for this special stage show, with singers, actors, and dancers all bringing Charles Schulz's beloved Peanuts characters and the Christmas classic animated TV special to life. Ruthie Ann Miles sings holiday songs with the Orchestra and Chorus and joins in a sing-a-long of Christmas carols with the audience. The decked-out lobby of Davies Symphony Hall features kid-friendly refreshments and Peanuts-themed activities.

Holiday season film presentations start with Rodgers and Hammerstein at the Movies December 2 and 3, when Tony nominee and vocalist Laura Osnes sings with the Orchestra to film clips fromSouth Pacific, The King and I, Oklahoma! and Carousel on the big screen, and songs from The Sound of Music and Cinderella. Ted Sperling conducts and co-hosts. The Orchestra also performs live along with the classic movie Singin' in the Rain, starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, December 9 and 10.

The Symphony's annual New Year's Eve Celebration December 31 is headlined musical theater and television stars Jane Krakowski and Tituss Burgess, both of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidtand 30 Rock fame. This performance marks the co-stars' first ever full-length concert collaboration together.

Throughout the month of December, the lobbies of Davies Symphony Hall are transformed into a Christmas wonderland, complete with towering trees decorated with handmade ornaments made by children and volunteers from local schools and community groups.

Tickets for all holiday concerts are on sale now at sfsymphony.org, by phone at 415-864-6000, and at the Davies Symphony Hall box office on Grove Street between Franklin Street and Van Ness Avenue.

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