Tonight’s “Evening Concert” is the annual “St. Olaf Christmas Festival”

Tonight at 7:00 on the “Evening Concert” on FM 90.9 “The New York Philharmonic This Week” is pre-empted so we can bring you “The St. Olaf Christmas Festival” with hymns, carols, choral works, and orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity,  featuring more than 500 student musicians in five choirs, and the St. Olaf Orchestra. 

Monday December 24: “The New York Philharmonic This Week” (19-13) pre-empted for Holiday Special

Holiday Special: St. Olaf Christmas Festival

Host Valerie Kahler shares the sights and sounds of one of the nation's most cherished holiday celebrations. The festival includes hymns, carols, choral works, and orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity, and features more than 500 student musicians in five choirs, and the St. Olaf Orchestra.

St. Olaf Orchestra conducted by Steven Amundsen

St. Olaf Choir conducted by Anton Armstrong

Cantorei conducted by Allyss Haecker

Chapel Choir and Viking Chorus conducted by Tesfa Wondemagegnehu

Manitou Singers conducted by Therees Hibbard

PROGRAM:

Matthew Peterson: Dawn: Redeeming, Radiant – Orchestra

Edward Elgar: Prologue (from The Apostles) – Massed Choir & Orchestra

[Narration – Pastor Matthew Marohl]

Swedish Folk Tune, arr. John Ferguson: Prepare the Royal Highway – Massed Choir & Orchestra

Felix Mendelssohn: How Lovely Are the Messengers (from St. Paul) – Massed Choir & Orchestra

Greek Orthodox Chant, arr. Shireen Abu-Khader – Cantorei

Jacob Narverud: Lunar Lullaby – Viking Chorus; Kyle Dacon, piano

Jean Berger: Alleluia (Brazilian Psalm) – St. Olaf Choir

Z. Randall Stroope: There Is No Rose – Manitou Singers; Garret Bond, piano; Julia Porter, oboe

Pie Cantiones, arr. Michael Engelhardt: Gaudete – Chapel Choir; Orchestra percussion

C. Hubert H. Parry, arr. Edward Elgar, adapt. John Ferguson: O Day of Peace – Massed Choir & Orchestra

[Reading – Pastors Matthew Marohl & Katherine Fick]

French Carol Melody, arr. Robert Scholz: Angels We Have Heard on High – Massed Choir & Orchestra

Malcolm V. Edwards: Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day – Manitou Singers; Sophie Koehler & Kevin Yetter, percussion

Polish Traditional, arr. Barlow Bradford: Infant Holy, Infant Lowly – Chapel Choir & Orchestra

14th-century Carol, arr Ørjan Matre: Eit barn er født i Betlehem – St. Olaf Cantorei; Grace Kenny, violin; Ally Moore, bass

Kim Andre Arnesen: I Will Light Candles This Christmas – St. Olaf Choir & Orchestra

African American Spiritual, arr. André J. Thomas: Go Where I Send Thee – St Olaf Choir; Garrett Bond,piano; Paulo Gladney, baritone

Traditional African Carol via Michael Olatunji, arr. Wendell Whalum & Barrington Brooks: Betelehemu - Viking Chorus; Seth Mutenda, tenor

John Rutter: Movement I (from Gloria) – Massed Choir & St. Olaf Orchestra

Steven Amundsen: Rejoice! – St. Olaf Orchestra

Various:  Carol Collage – All Choirs, Orchestra, all conductors

Do You Hear What I Hear? (Gloria Shayne, arr. Simeone, Waring, Ferguson)

O How Beautiful the Sky (Danish Traditional, arr. John Ferguson)

Angels We Have Heard on High (French Carol, arr. John Ferguson)

Away in a Manger (James Murray, arr. John Ferguson)

Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine (German Traditional, arr. John Ferguson)

Daniel Kantor/Franz Gruber: Night of Silence/Silent Night – Massed Choirs & Orchestra (TW)

Philipp Nicolai, arr. F. Melius Christiansen: Wake, Awake – Massed Choir (AA)

[Narration – Pastor Katherine Fick]

Leonard Bernstein: Movement I (from Chichester Psalms) – Massed Choir & Orchestra

[Narration – Pastor Matthew Marohl]

Paul Manz: E’en So Lord Jesus, Quickly Come – Massed Choir & Orchestra

Traditional Silesian, arr. F. Melius Christiansen:  Beautiful Savior – Massed Choir