The Madison Symphony Orchestra rang in the holiday season with their annual concert, “A Madison Symphony Christmas,” on Friday evening, brimming with good cheer.
In the spirit of the season, members of the Madison Symphony Chorus greeted symphony-goers with Christmas carols in the lobby prior to the show — a small taste of what was to come. The chorus would later join the MSO on stage for the evening’s festivities.
Also joining the orchestra were the Madison Youth Choirs and the Mount Zion Gospel Choir, alongside classical singers Vanessa Becerra (soprano) and Craig Irvin (baritone). Between a varied roster and a vast repertoire, the concert was a quiltwork of diverse sounds and traditions.
The concert began with a chest-swelling rendition of “Joy to the World,” replete with angelic vocals by the chorus and dashes of brilliant arpeggios from organist Greg Zelek. Midway through the song, members of the youth choirs streamed into the aisles with candles in hand. On maestro John DeMain’s cue, they enveloped the hall in glowing harmony.
What followed were two pieces from Handel’s “Messiah.” The first, “For Unto Us a Child is Born,” was a prim, courtly affair featuring the chorus. Irvin then joined the orchestra for the baritone aria, “The Trumpet Shall Sound.” He stood on stage opposite trumpet soloist John Aley, alternating between elaborate, full-bodied vocals and brass fanfares.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the MSO’s first performance in Overture Hall and their first performance with the venue’s concert organ, which featured Camille Saint-Saën’s “Organ Symphony.” In honor of that first concert, the orchestra performed Richard Elliott’s arrangement of “On Christmas Night,” which includes several allusions to Saint-Saën’s piece.
In his interpretation, Zelek spun a processional yet jaunty organ melody backed by fluttering piano, sweeping strings, and blaring trumpets. The performance earned a standing ovation, full of hoots and hollers.
Jumping from piece to piece, the concert loosened up in the second act, leaving behind hymnal melodies for more familiar carols. Each piece was made fresh, however, with the talents of the orchestra and several choirs behind them, from a playful “Jingle Bells” featuring the Madison Youth Choirs to a jazzy rendition of “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” which called to mind the jazz crooners of Christmas past.
A clear highlight was a South American Christmas medley featuring two pieces from Peru and Venezuela, “La Buena Nueva” (The Good News), by Mario Cavagnaro Llerena, and “El Burrito Sabanera” (The Little Donkey from Bethlehem), by Hugo Blanco. Becerra, who is of Peruvian and Mexican descent, gave fun and fiery solos during both pieces. Her intricate, operatic vocals combined with toe-tapping, rhythmic melodies to create something unique. As she swayed to the music, some in the audience were compelled to clap along.
Near the close of the evening were performances led by the Mount Zion Gospel Choir of “What Child is This” and “Mary Did You Know” as well as “Christmas Greeting” by Leotha Stanley, one of the group’s directors. Each piece gave the old carols a lively and soulful twist, fully embodying the joy of the season.
For the concert’s final number, musicians and audience-members alike donned all varieties of festive hats, from Santa caps to reindeer antlers and a menorah. As the combined ensembles crowded together on stage, DeMain brought the audience into the fold by inviting them to join in a Christmas carol sing-along. In that glorious finale, Overture Hall sang with a rarer kind of harmony.
