Holiday Performances in Long Beach
When thinking of the holidays, it’s easy to go right to the gift-giving, feast-eating or light-sparkling, and forget that it is also a time when we enjoy some of our most cherished art performances, whether it be music, dancing or drama. That will all be taking place in Long Beach over the next few weeks – here’s a Christmas list of great performances!
THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS, MUSICA ANGELICA
Now in its 31st season, Musica Angelica remains one of the country’s foremost historical performance ensembles. Led by world-renowned organist, Martin Haselbock, Musica Angelica musicians play on instruments authentic to the baroque period, or carefully crafted replicas. This performance, which takes place December 9 (7:30 p.m.) at the Beverly O’Neill Theater (300 East Ocean Blvd.) will include some classical heavyweights, including Bach’s “Himmelskönig sei Willkommen,” as well as Vivaldi’s "Il Gardellino."
A Joyous Holiday in Song, LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE
Long Beach City College’s Performing Arts department presents its Holiday Choir Concert, featuring Cecilia McDowall's A Winter's Night. A Joyous Holiday in Song takes place December 9 (7 p.m.) in the Campus Auditorium, Building J (4901 E. Carson St.) The performance will feature the LBCC Viking Singers, the Viking Chorale, Brass Ensemble and the Long Beach City College Holiday Carolers.
THE NUTCRACKER, LONG BEACH BALLET
This is the 41st anniversary of what has come to be known as the nation’s best loved Nutcracker. Produced and performed by the Long Beach Ballet, the devotion people have for this particular production of the Tchaikovsky classic is that LB Ballet Artistic Director David Wilcox tends to pull out all the stops on the production. This year’s performance at the Long Beach Terrace Theater (300 E. Ocean Blvd.) is no different, as the production, which runs from December 16-17 and December 22-23, will feature a full orchestra, flying sleigh, a live horse, plenty of on-stage pyrotechnics and a cast of more than 200.
HOLIDAY SWING, LONG BEACH SYMPHONY
The Long Beach Symphony, under the direction of conductor Byron Stripling, will perform a full program of holiday favorites that’s sure to make for a festive evening.The symphony will be joined by Sydney McSweeney on vocals, who will not only sing along with the musicians, but help to lead the audience with a full program of holiday sing-along favorites. The one-time performance takes place December 9 (8 p.m.) at the Long Beach Arena (300 E. Ocean Blvd.) It promises to be a most wonderful time.
HANDEL’S MESSIAH, LONG BEACH CAMERATA SINGERS
Long Beach Camerata Singers teams with baroque ensemble Tesserae to present one of the most popular choral pieces in Western music. Tesserae specializes in music from the 16th through 18th century–Handel wrote Messiah in 1741–and Camerata is simply one of the most acclaimed and sought after choral groups in the country, led by Grammy-winning director James K. Bass. This one-time performance takes place December 21 at 7:30 P.M. in the Beverly O’Neill Theater (300 E. Ocean Blvd).
