Yesterday I continued my annual ritual of attending the Dallas Symphony Christmas concert. This year it was called Cheer. As usual, the performance showed exceptional quality and broad variety that included the orchestra, full chorus, children's choir, narration, guest artist and guest conductor.
The concert started with a mind-blowing arrangement and performance of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel". The chorus started out in the first level balcony level surrounding the concert hall and the children's choir processed down the aisles to their positions on stage. The composition was so rich and inspiring that I'd have been satisfied if the entire concert was that one performance. I was lucky to be sitting very close to the stage on the orchestra floor so that I had a very good view of the faces of the children in the choir.
Another notable performance was Hodie by Ralph Vaughan Williams. This piece opened the second half of the concert and, again, was on the level of the concert opener for satisfaction level.
Other memorable parts of the concert included Christmas Time is Here, which featured the children's choir. Also, a John Rutter choral piece was chilling and moving at the same time. Of course the usual rendition of The Christmas Song (Chestnuts) was great.
Even though a few of the principal players in the orchestra appeared to be missing, the level of professionalism of the orchestra and everything else was not compromised. I will definitely continue to make this an annual tradition and ritual for myself and any friends/family that want to participate.
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