Simulcast

One of my favorite choirs is the St Olaf Choir under the direction of Dr. Anton Armstrong. Their sound is inviting, their diction superb, their affect enjoyable and moving. They sing songs that I enjoy including many styles and varieties and they have fun doing it. I recently saw and heard them perform right here at Roberts Wesleyan College in our Cultural Life Center. I was not disappointed. The evening was like indulging in a decadent chocolate dessert. Delicious!

Every Christmas season for the last 100 years (!) they have presented a Christmas concert which (since sometime in the 1980's I think) has been televised every few years. Since I had the privilege of attending a summer workshop there 2 years ago, I met and sang under the various directors, learning much from their tips and teachings. When I found out that their Christmas concert this year would be simulcast in various theaters, I immediately looked to see if Rochester was included. Yes - in 3 different theaters.

I was so delighted that I splurged and got a ticket. Just like a child impatient for Christmas to arrive, I looked forward to the day (yesterday) and time of the event with great anticipation. I was a bit disappointed that the theater where I attended, Tinseltown, was not crowded at all. There were only a handful of us in attendance. I got all the joy of the concert without the hassle of wrestling with crowds and traffic! I settled back in my cozy comfy seat, closed my eyes, and drank in the fabulous repertoire which just rolled out of the 500+ student musicians so seemingly effortlessly.

Here is the program they presented:
http://www.stolaf.edu/christmasfest/2011program.pdf

You should be able to order a DVD of the event at some point - which is totally worth the investment. I hope they continue to make this option available. I would travel there if I could, but alas! I cannot do that very often. What a joy for a musician to be able to enjoy a concert rather than to work so hard to produce one! Now that you know this is possible, I encourage you to check it out next year. Attend a theater near you and have a cup of holiday cheer. It's delightful.