Once again it is the time of the year to enjoy a warm fireplace, hot chocolate, a book or music. So what would this time be without North Island Choral Society's yearly christmas concert.
With only a week until the concert, the choir — under its leadership of Paul Colthorpe — is in its final stages of rehearsals in preparation for the concert.
This year NICS will perform Saint-Saëns Christmas Oratorio as well as Vivaldi's Gloria featuring Megan Skidmore, soprano; Amy Lelliot, soprano; Lisa Deith, alto; Chris Bellamy, baritone; David Brown, tenor.
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was a French late-romantic composer, organist, conductor, and pianist. He began music lessons early and by the age of three had already composed his first piano piece.
He is known especially for the Carnival of the Animals, Samson and Delila, Piano Concerto No. 2, and his Symphony No. 3 (Organ Symphony).
While an organist at Madeleina, Saint-Saëns wrote the oratorio in less than a fortnight, completing it ten days before its premiere on Christmas 1858.
Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice in the year 1678. He was the eldest of nine children whose father was originally a barber by trade, and ultimately became a professional violin teacher and musician.
Vivaldi is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread over Europe. Vivaldi is known mainly for composing instrumental concertos, especially for the violin, as well as sacred choral works and over 40 operas. His best-known work is a series of violin concertos known as The Four Seasons.
The Gloria we perform today was unveiled at a concert in 1939 and has become one of the most popular of all choral-orchestral works.
The concerts will be performed Dec. 2 and 3 at St. George's United Church on Fitzgerald Avenue at Sixth Street in Courtenay. Both performances are at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15 and available at Laughing Oyster in Comox, at the Blue Heron and Videos 'n More; the Home and Garden Gate in Cumberland and of course from any choir member.