Christmas in New York 2022: A Classical Concert Cornucopia

I love Western Christmas, as I (a baptized Ukrainian Orthodox) call it. Anglo-germanic traditions of pine trees and lights, and traditional foods and songs, fill me with joy and peace. Tea of the moment: Harney & Sons White Christmas.

New York City does a good job festooning itself with sights and events for the season. One great example is the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Neapolitan Christmas tree, pictured here with a concert going on in front of it. Many New Yorkers make a pilgrimage to this tree every year to enjoy their favorite ornaments from the Baroque era. Sadly, there is no tree lighting ceremony this year.

So when looking to inject a little classical/medieval choral experience into my holiday this year, I was astounded to find THIRTEEN options for the second/third weeks of December. Here's the list. I wonder which one I'll choose from this bounty? (Dollar signs: $ = under $30, $$ = $30-50, $$$ = over $50. Nota bene: some of these events stream online, for a reduced price or free.)

FRIDAY DECEMBER 2, 2022

The Choral Society of Grace Church Christmas Concert, 8 pm, $$
Palestrina: Hodie Christus natus est à 8; W.A. Mozart: Great Mass in C minor, KV 427 (excerpt); Cecilia McDowall: O Oriens; Benjamin Britten: Hymn to the Virgin; Ola Gjeilo: Ubi caritas; Handel: Hallelujah (from Messiah); Audience carol sing

 

SATURDAY DECEMBER 3, 2022

Repeat:  The Choral Society of Grace Church Christmas Concert, 3 pm, $$

THURSDAY DECEMBER 8, 2022
 

A Bach Christmas, St. Luke in the Fields, 7:30 pm (lecture at 6:30 pm), $$
Choir and period instruments.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 9, 2022

Christmas Candlelight Concert, Church of the Transfiguration ("The Little Church Around the Corner"), 7:30 pm, $$
Handel's Messiah (The Christmas Portion) & Organ Concerto

SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2022

 

Trio Medieval in the Fuentidueña Chapel at The Cloisters, 2 pm, $$$

Holiday music from Britain and Scandinavia weaving strands of sacred music, folk, jazz, and improvisation from six centuries.

 

Early Music New York Baroque Christmas: Carols, Noëls, Villancicos, Chorales, voices and instruments, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 2 pm, $$

 

Britten: A Ceremony of Carols and sing along carols, Girls' Choir and alumns, 4 pm, Grace Church, free

The Splendors of Dresden: Juilliard 415, Music Before 1800, Corpus Christi Church, 4 pm, $-$$$

In the 18th century, the court orchestra of Dresden was one of the glories of Europe. Some of the greatest composers and performers gathered at the glittering Saxon capital, from the virtuoso concertmaster Johann Georg Pisendel to the quirky and ingenious bass player Jan Dismas Zelenka. Directed by the distinguished Laurence Cummings of England, the students of Juilliard415 bring this rich music to life in concertos and suites by Heinichen, Fasch, Pisendel, Zelenka, and others.

 

TUESDAY DECEMBER 13, 2022 and THURSDAY DECEMBER 15, 2022

Voices of Ascension Candlelight Christmas Concert, 7:30 pm, $-$$$

SUNDAY DECEMBER 18, 2022

Angelica Women's Chamber Choir - Nowel: Out of your sleep arise, Christ & St. Stephen's Church, 3 pm, $ suggested donation
Medieval carols and chants of the season; John Taverner’s “Audivi vocem de caelo” and Francisco Guerrero’s “A un niño llorando al yelo”; as well as modern composer Sir John Tavener’s “The Lamb” and Michael Engelhardt’s arrangement of Hildegard von Bingen’s “O antiqui sancti.”

Riverside Church Candlelight Choral Festival, 4 pm, $$

Online: The Splendors of Dresden: Juilliard 415, Music Before 1800, Corpus Christi Church, 4 pm, $

A Jazz Concert for the Holidays, Church of the Transfiguration ("The Little Church Around the Corner"), 7:30 pm, $$

Dominic Carioti, saxophone; Sam Weber, bass; Julia Chen, piano; Evan Hyde, drums

Original compositions as well as arrangements of music from composers such as John Cotrane.

Special Compline by Candlelight: Ceremony of Carols, Benjamin Britten, Trinity Church/St. Paul's Chapel, 8 pm, free, no reservations required.
Trinity Youth Chorus; Melissa Attlebury, conductor; Jacqueline Kerrod, harpist 

 

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And if that's not enough, here's the Vocal Area Network list, which includes all sorts of small choirs.
 

 

Soup for a Cold April Day

April is when you want to open your windows. But more often than not, it's too cold to do so! Here is a soup I contrived for such days, when the sunlight says Spring, but the weather is not there yet.

Serves four. You'll need a good blender. Sublime in a Vitamix.

1 Tablespoon olive oil

2 English (seedless) cucumbers, sliced lengthwise and "seedless" middle part scooped out, then cut diagonally into 1/4" slices

1 yellow onion, chopped medium-fine

1 garlic clove, minced

1 quart chicken broth

1 medium-sized Yukon Gold potato, peeled and cut into 1/4" slices

Salt, pepper (white pepper is best for a delicate soup like this)

5 leaves fresh mint

Yogurt or sour cream (optional)

Heat a pan over high heat and add olive oil. When oil smells fragrant and a drop of water sizzles in it, turn heat to medium-low. Add onion and cook, stirring every now and then, until golden. Add garlic, stir for 30 seconds. Add chicken broth and potato, bring to the boil, then turn down heat so soup simmers. Let simmer 10 minutes. Add cucumber, and simmer 5 minutes more.

Add everything in pot to a blender and puree. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add mint and puree a little bit longer. Soup should be thick enough to be just pourable. 

Serve cool, as first course for a nice warm dinner; have yogurt or sour cream available for those who want to dollop some atop their soup. 

I served this as a starter for the following salmon recipe. Followed with a Horlicks and a lavender melatonin epsom salt bath, I slept like a baby.

https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/250469/seared-salmon-with-braised-broccoli/