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Jacksonville Symphony brings holiday cheer throughout December

For Clay Today
Posted 12/9/20

JACKSONVILLE – As one of only a few orchestras in American performing for a live audience, the Jacksonville Symphony continues creating live music through December. Although the concerts may look a …

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Jacksonville Symphony brings holiday cheer throughout December


Posted

JACKSONVILLE – As one of only a few orchestras in American performing for a live audience, the Jacksonville Symphony continues creating live music through December. Although the concerts may look a little different, the Jacksonville Symphony will continue to be a soundtrack for the holiday season. The month will bring the Symphony’s “First Coast Nutcracker Suite,” “Handel’s Messiah Suite,” “Holiday Pops,” and a special New Year’s Eve concert featuring the music of The Rat Pack.

This month’s schedule includes:

First Coast Nutcracker Suite, conducted by Deanna Tham, Dec. 11-13, at the Moran Theater, 300 Water St., Jacksonville. Concerts are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Enter the magical world of childlike imagination and experience Tchaikovsky’s ballet in the “First Coast Nutcracker Suite.” A family tradition in Northeast Florida for more than 40 years, this timeless masterpiece comes to life with the only performance in Jacksonville with a full, live symphony orchestra. This year’s production has been redesigned to make sure dancers, musicians and the audience are all able to safely enjoy Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic.

Handel’s Messiah Suite, conducted by Gonzalo Farias with Emily Birsan, soprano, Amanda Crider, mezzo-soprano, Eric Ferring, tenor and David Kravitz, baritone, Dec. 12-13, at Jacoby Symphony Hall, 300 Water St., Jacksonville. Concerts are Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

In a season of social distancing and a pause on choral singing, the Jacksonville Symphony proudly maintains the heart of one of the great holiday traditions: Handel’s “Messiah.” World-class soloists and the Symphony perform everyone’s favorite arias, including “Ev’ry valley shall be exalted,” “O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion,” “The trumpet shall sound,” and many more. This abridged performance of The Greatest Story Ever Told concludes with the uplifting sounds of the “Hallelujah” chorus.

Holiday Pops, conducted by Farias, is Dec. 17-20, at the Moran Theater. Concerts are Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

Jacksonville’s favorite musical holiday tradition has been reimagined! Join the Jacksonville Symphony, guest singers and Douglas Anderson dancers for a festive celebration that is sure to put you in the holiday spirit. So ‘let it snow’ at the most wonderful concert of the year.

New Year’s Eve: The Rat Pack, conducted by Farias with vocalists Sal Viviano, Nat Chandler and Eric Jordan Young, is Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. at Jacoby Symphony Hall.

The Jacksonville Symphony and guest vocalists straight from Broadway step into the roles of Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin to celebrate the best of “the Rat Pack” for a very special New Year’s Eve concert. Spend an hour with the music that defined an era and hear the music they made famous.

The safety of patrons, musicians and staff remains the Symphony’s top priority. Based on CDC guidelines, and the results of the survey sent to patrons in June, the Symphony has developed a comprehensive list of safety protocols that are in place for the 2020/21 season.

The protocols include, but are not limited to, a mask requirement while in the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts, abbreviated programming that will last between 60-75 minutes, and physically distanced seating throughout Jacoby Symphony Hall and the Moran Theater.

Tickets can be purchased at JaxSymphony.org or by contacting the ticket office at (904) 354-5547.