One minute it’s Thanksgiving, and the next, you’re stocking up on champagne to welcome the new year.
The holidays go by in an instant, but we all try to steal a little time for the ceremony of the season, for its sounds, sights, aromas and traditions. Finding that time is difficult, especially with the growth in the past few years of South Florida’s arts season, which has become more compact but much more crowded.
In the spirit of preparing a to-do list, though, for that hard-to-schedule task, we offer this holiday music-and-dance calendar, focused primarily on Palm Beach County (there are many more such events in Broward and Miami-Dade counties) to show you just how much is out there, and what you might want to see. You’ll notice that on some weekends, there are multiple things that are well worth your time.
You’ll also notice that this is the time of year that two holiday presentations that have become de rigueur in English-speaking countries are represented here several times: George Frideric Handel’s oratorio Messiah, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker. Handel’s oratorio premiered in April 1742 as an Easter piece, and has been a sellout hit since then, primarily in an abridged format that deals with the nativity of Jesus, or what choral directors call “the Christmas portion” of Messiah.
Two of the local ballet companies have already presented their Nutcracker performances, but there are others coming in December, including the George Balanchine version — for it was he who inaugurated the American tradition of presenting this ballet each season when he revived the 1892 work for television in 1954 — courtesy of Miami City Ballet at the end of the month.
In between are many vocal and instrumental programs featuring the music of the holidays, mostly Christmas, but with some songs of the season for Hanukkah (which runs Dec. 6-14 this year). So clip this calendar, mark it up, or just leave it handy: But do take the time to take in at least one of these programs. It could be just the thing that puts the holiday spring back in your step.
Friday, Dec. 4
Alleluias, Magnificats and Carols: The Delray Beach Chorale, now under the direction of Florida Atlantic University’s Patricia Fleitas, offers a holiday program featuring music by J.S. Bach, Halsey Stevens, and Handel (the Hallelujah chorus), along with alleluia settings by Jewish composers. The Chorale’s new orchestral ensemble also will be making its debut at these concerts. At the DeSantis Family Chapel on the campus of Palm Beach Atlantic University at 300 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 on day of concert; call 800-984-7282 or visit www.delraybeachchorale.org.
Saturday, Dec. 5
Alleluias, Magnificats and Carols: The Delray Beach Chorale’s holiday program, this time at First Presbyterian Church, 33 Gleason St., Delray Beach. 3 p.m. Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 on day of concert; call 800-984-7282 or visit www.delraybeachchorale.org.
Winter Tapestry: The Young Singers of the Palm Beaches, a 350-strong organization of children from grades 2 to 12 performs its holiday program at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. 7 p.m. Tickets start at $15. Call 561-832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org.
Sunday, Dec. 6
Celebrate the Holidays … With a Twist: The Robert Sharon Chorale presents the first of three holiday concerts in December with this performance of seasonal music by composers from Handel to Rollo Dilworth. 2 p.m., DeSantis Chapel, Palm Beach Atlantic University, 300 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Tickets: $15; visit rschorale.com/tickets.
Cocoa and Carols: The Master Chorale of South Florida, joined by the Girl Choir of South Florida, presents a concert of holiday music, followed by complimentary cocoa and Christmas cookies. 4 p.m., St. Mark’s Greek Orthodox Church, 2100 NW 51st St, Boca Raton. Tickets: $30. Call 954-641-2653 or visit www.masterchoraleofsouthflorida.org.
Holiday Choral Prelude: The Nova Singers, a Broward County-based 125-person community choir now in its 40th year, presents music by Z. Randall Stroope (Hodie), Morten Lauridsen (O Nata Lux) and familiar Christmas and Hanukkah selections. Director Chuck Stanley and the singers also will be accompanied by a brass and percussion ensemble. 4 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, 701 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton. Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door, $5 for students.
Messiah: Florida Atlantic University’s choral students, past and present, along with faculty members, all under the direction of Patricia Fleitas, does its annual rendition of the Handel classic. 7 p.m., University Theatre, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton. Tickets: $15; visit www.fauevents.com or call 800-564-9539.
Tuesday, Dec. 8
A Seraphic Fire Christmas: The First Noël: The Grammy-nominated Miami choral group Seraphic Fire, which has just finished a widely praised series of concerts in Washington, New York and Philadelphia, presents its annual Christmas music program in its only Palm Beach County performance this season at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Palm Beach Gardens. The group (led here by chorus master James Bass) always stages this a cappella concert of music with candlelight and a canny use of the church acoustics. 7:30 p.m., St. Mark’s, 3395 Burns Road, Palm Beach Gardens. Tickets: $45. Call 305- 285-9060 or see www.seraphic fire.org.
Symphony of the Americas: James Brooks-Bruzzese leads his orchestra in its annual holiday program, which will include selections from The Nutcracker and Leroy Anderson’s light classic Sleigh Ride, plus an audience sing-along of favorite carols. The concert is repeated Dec. 13 (see date). Tickets start at $62. 8:15 p.m., Amaturo Theater, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-335-7002 or visit www.sota.org.
Wednesday, Dec. 9
Live at Lynn Christmas: The 175-member Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida, a 5-year-old community group led by Harold Dioquino, is accompanied by instrumentalists for its program of holiday music, and promises a special celebrity guest. 7:30 p.m., Wold Performing Arts Center, Lynn University, 3601 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton. Tickets: $35-$55. Call the Lynn box office at 561-237-9000 or visit www.lynn.edu/events.
Friday, Dec. 11
Messiah Sing-In: This Master Chorale of South Florida revives the older tradition of the singalong Messiah, in which audience members bring along their scores of the work and join in for the choruses. Bring your own score, or borrow one at the door. 8 p.m., First Presbyterian Church of Pompano Beach, 2331 NE 26th Ave., Pompano Beach. Tickets: $25. Call 954-641-2653 or visit www.masterchoraleofsouthflorida.org.
A Christmas Spectacular: The Orchid City Brass Band, a local ensemble in the British brass band tradition, joins the Robert Sharon Chorale for a concert that will include the Hallelujah chorus and Christmas music from the Austrian Alps. 7:30 p.m., Duncan Theatre, Palm Beach State College, 4200 S. Congress Ave., Lake Worth. Tickets: $20, $10 for students. Call 561-247-4078 or visit www.orchidcitybrass.org.
Saturday, Dec. 12
Nutcracker with the Duke: Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn created a jazz rewrite of some of the pieces from Tchaikovsky’s ballet score in 1960 (the “Arabian Dance,” for instance, becomes “Arabesque Cookie”), and the Florida Wind Symphony Jazz Orchestra will play it along other holiday selections in a concert led by Kyle Prescott. 7 p.m., University Theatre, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton. Tickets: $20; visit www.fauevents.com or call 800-564-9539.
The Nutcracker: The aspiring professionals of the Harid Conservatory present Act II from Tchaikovsky’s ballet as well as other dances. The conservatory has a strong record of placing its graduates in major ballet companies, so here is a good chance to see future dance stars in the making. 3 p.m., Countess de Hoernle Theater, Spanish River High School, 5100 Jog Road, Boca Raton. Tickets: $25-$30. Call 561-997-2677 or visit www.harid.edu.
Sunday, Dec. 13
Symphony of the Americas: The Fort Lauderdale orchestra’s repeat matinee performance of its annual holiday program. Tickets start at $62. 2 p.m., Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-335-7002 or visit www.sota.org.
Gingerbread Holiday Concert: This is the 13th year of Lynn University’s holiday concert at the Great Hall of the Boca Raton Resort and Club. The Lynn Philharmonia, a fine student orchestra, performs holiday music in a family-friendly event that always sells out and doubles as a fundraiser for music conservatory scholarships. 3 p.m., Boca Raton Resort and Club, 501 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton. Call 561-237-9000; no tickets are available online.
The Nutcracker: The Harid Conservatory, in Act II from Tchaikovsky’s ballet as well as other dances. 3 p.m., Countess de Hoernle Theater, Spanish River High School, 5100 Jog Road, Boca Raton. Tickets: $25-$30. Call 561-997-2677 or visit www.harid.edu.
Messiah: The Masterworks Chorus of the Palm Beaches performs its version of the oratorio for the 35th year running at the Royal Poinciana Chapel, 60 Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach. Director Ken Taylor has added a second performance on Dec. 19 in West Palm Beach (see date for details). The concert, which is always heavily attended, begins at 5 p.m. Tickets: $25. Call 561-845-9696 or visit www.masterworkspb.org.
FAU Madrigal Dinner: Florida Atlantic University began its own version of this popular dinner-theater tradition five years ago, and it’s been well-received. Students dress in Renaissance-era costumes and sing period music while guests enjoy a sumptuous meal (and can dress in period garb if they wish). The dinner is a benefit for the Choral and Vocal Studies Program at the university. Tickets are $100 ($55 of which is tax-deductible) or $1,000 for a table of eight ($640 of which is tax-deductible); if you spring for the table, you get a special perk: Being escorted into the event. 5:30 p.m., Vintage Gymnasium at Old School Square, 51 N Swinton Ave., Delray Beach Call 561-297-2337 or visit https://fauf.fau.edu/madrigal.
Tuba Christmas: In 1974, the great tuba player and pedagogue Harvey Phillips brought a large ensemble of tubas to Rockefeller Center to play Christmas carols on the ice rink, and a quirky holiday tradition was born. Florida Atlantic University picked up this idea five years ago, and presents it for free; the concert will be led by Sean Murray. 5 p.m., Mizner Park Amphitheatre, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton.
Holiday With the Pops: The Indian River Pops Orchestra, led by Dwight Robert Roadman, is joined by the Robert Sharon Chorale for a concert of seasonal music dedicated to the memory of Owen Seward, longtime director of the Indian River Pops and the New Gardens Band, who died in August. Tickets: $25. 7 p.m., Eissey Campus Theatre, 11051 Campus Drive, Palm Beach Gardens. Call 561-207-5900 or visit www.palmbeachstate.edu.
Monday, Dec. 14
Christmas Concert and Community Carol Sing: The big faux-Spanish Gothic Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach isn’t just the place where Michael Jordan and Donald Trump got married. Music director Hal Pysher also leads the Bethesda Choir and an instrumental ensemble in this annual holiday concert and sing-along, which the church’s resonant acoustic and powerful organ make even more impressive. 7:30 p.m. Suggested donation: $15. Bethesda-by-the-Sea, 141 S. County Road, Palm Beach. Call 561-655-4554 or visit www.bbts.org.
Wednesday, Dec. 16
Ann Hampton Callaway: The veteran Great American Songbook chanteuse and composer is accompanied by a trio in an evening of holiday music called “Making Spirits Bright.” 8 p.m., Society of the Four Arts, 2 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach. Tickets: $40-$45. Call 655-7226 or visit www.fourarts.org.
Thursday, Dec. 17
The Midtown Men: Four members of the original cast of Jersey Boys, including Christian Hoff and J. Robert Spencer, add holiday music to their usual 1960s-era Four Seasons repertoire. 8 p.m., Kravis Center. Call 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org.
Friday, Dec. 18
Messiah: Seraphic Fire, after presenting its Christmas carol program, follows that up with three performances of Handel’s oratorio in Fort Lauderdale, Miami Shores and Cutler Bay from Dec. 18-20. On Dec. 18, the choir is at one of its favorite venues, All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale (333 Tarpon Drive, just off Las Olas Boulevard). 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $65. Call 305-285-9060 or visit www.seraphicfire.org.
Celtic Woman: Dreamed up by the people behind Riverdance, Celtic Woman features three female Irish singers and a fiddler, all very pretty and dolled up to the nines, in a relentlessly gooey but spotlessly produced selection of Christmas music, accompanied by an orchestra. 8 p.m., Kravis Center. Call 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org.
Saturday, Dec. 19
Messiah: The Masterworks Chorus of the Palm Beaches’s second performance of the Handel oratorio is set for 5 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches, 900 Brandywine Road, West Palm Beach. Tickets: $25. Call 561-845-9696 or visit www.masterworkspb.org.
Well-Strung: The New York-based all-male singing string quartet with the smirky name has made a splash by mixing renditions of pop tunes such as Kelly Clarkson’s “Since You’ve Been Gone” with more traditional fare. The hunky foursome offers a concert of holiday music in a program called A Well-Strung Christmas. 8 p.m., Kravis Center. Tickets start at $39. Call 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org.
Sunday, Dec. 20
Lessons and Carols: A Victorian Christmas: The St. Paul’s Episcopal Church choir of Delray Beach, led by Keith Paulson-Thorp, presents its annual King’s College-style service-plus-concert. This year, Paulson-Thorp focuses on music from the Victorian era. Free admission. 3 p.m., 188 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. Call 561-276-4541 or visit www.stpaulsdelray.org for more information.
Tuesday, Dec. 22
Broadway on Ice: Ice skating champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White are featured in a program of ice dances set to holiday music and songs from the Great White Way. 8 p.m. Tuesday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Wednesday, Kravis Center. Tickets start at $30. Call 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org.
Sunday, Dec. 27-Tuesday, Dec. 29
The Nutcracker: Miami City Ballet gives five performances of Tchaikovsky’s ballet as choreographed by George Balanchine. 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Kravis Center. Tickets start at $25. Call 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org.
Friday, Jan. 1
Salute to Vienna: The annual Viennese tradition of a concert to welcome the new year has been a staple of New Year’s Day at the Kravis Center for some time now. The Strauss Symphony of America, led by Alexander Steinitz, is accompanied by four soloists, plus ballroom and ballet dancers, in a concert of waltzes and other dances by Johann Strauss II and other members of his family. Prosit Neujahr! 8 p.m. Tickets start at $29. Call 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org.