Long Beach Chorale Performs

Artistic Director Eliza Rubenstein with Accompanist Bob Gunn will lead the Long Beach Chorale in a concert of music praising the Virgin Mary, just in time for the holiday season at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11 at Grace First Presbyterian Church in Long Beach.

In its first performance of its 2011-2012 season, the Long Beach Chorale will present the United States premiere of Cecilia McDowall's Magnificat. The Long Beach Chorale also will be performing a wide selection of other works, including music by Javier Busto, William Billings, and Conrad Susa, along with African-American spirituals, and an energetic setting of the famous West Indies tune The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy. The audience will hear an example of early American sacred harp or shape note singing, a Brazilian samba-inspired a cappella selection, and one of the movements from Rachmaninoff’s affecting All-Night Vigil.

The Long Beach Chorale & Chamber Orchestra is also launching its brand new Adopt a Singer campaign this season, sharing singers’ stories with the greater Long Beach community and building funds to support ambitious programming for years to come.

$20 adults, $15 students available online or at the door