Join the School of Music as they usher in the holidays with diverse and exciting performances this holiday season by the Lyric Opera Ensemble, the Crimson Harp Christmas Concert, the University of Utah Choirs Concert, the Jazz Ensemble Holiday Concert and piano faculty.
The Lyric Opera Ensemble and Sinfonia Salt Lake present two fantastic operas in one evening with a combination of “Amahl and the Night Visitors” and “A Christmas Carol.” In act one meet Amahl, a disabled boy who can only walk with a crutch and who has a problem with telling tall tales. When three splendidly dressed kings, on their way to witness the birth of the Christ child, appear at Amahl’s door seeking rest, he and his mother are amazed to learn of the purpose of their journey. In act two, enjoy an original opera by University of Utah students Mike Leavitt and Anthony Buck in a new adaptation of the beloved Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol.” Follow Ebenezer Scrooge as he learns the importance of generosity and kindness after being shown his past, present and future on one Christmas Eve. This is the second annual performance of the dual feature operetta, and is a new holiday tradition you will not want to miss. The performances will be on Nov. 30, Dec. 1- 2 at 7:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinée on Dec. 2 at the Salt Lake Community College Grand Theatre.
The Crimson Harp Ensemble’s Holiday Concert will take place on Dec. 1. Under the direction of Cathryn Clayton, the group will perform their own arrangements of holiday favorites such as “I Saw Three Ships,” “Carol of the Bells,” and “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy. The performance is at 7:30 p.m. in Thompson Chamber Music Hall.
Both the Jazz Ensemble and the Choirs at the U will present their own versions of seasonal concerts. On Dec. 7, the Jazz Ensemble will play exciting arrangements of traditional Christmas music at 7:30 p.m. at the Gallivan Center. On Dec. 8, the U’s premiere choirs will perform beautiful choral arrangements of traditional music. Works include arrangements of holiday songs such as “Hush-a-roon Carol,” “Christmas Song,” “Bin Emmanuel” and many more. The Holiday Choirs concert will be in Libby Gardner Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m.
On Dec. 10, the award-winning piano faculty at the U join the Piano Preparatory Division for Sundays@7 Showcase of holiday piano favorites in Libby Gardner Concert Hall at 7 p.m.. This program features familiar pieces performed by soloists and piano ensembles, as well as a performance by elementary school children from the Piano Outreach Program.
For more School of Music event information visit music.utah.edu/events. Tickets are available online at tickets.utah.edu or by phone at 801-581-7100.