Extended to Sun 12/27
Cleveland-based chamber ensemble Les Delices has used its time away from live performances to rethink how it presents music and come up with some innovations in doing all-virtual performances. Now it’s tapped the talents of beloved long-time TV host Dee Perry to join the musicians for its Christmas program Noel Noel, which debuted Thursday December 10 and was originally going to be available for listening through Wednesday December 23 in Les Delices’ Vimeo channel. That’s now been extended to Sunday December 27, giving you more time to subscribe and tune in.
The concert features French, German and English-derived carols, woven with both classic poems by Christina Rosetti, e.e. cummings and Thomas Campion, along with those by northeast Ohio poets Diane Kendig, former Ohio Poet Laureate Dave Lucas, and haiku poet Julie Warther, chosen in an open call for poets. They’ll be delivered in Perry’s unique style, which made her popular with area audiences during her many years of hosting WCPN’s Sound of Applause program.
Les Delices artistic director Debra Nagy says the poets were chosen to reflect a range of holiday experiences.
“I wanted the poetry to flow seamlessly and naturally with the music, so I’ve chosen texts that resonate with the song lyrics, or even directly reference them.”
The songs include such carols as the German “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen” and “In dulci jubilo,” the 17th-century English carol “Drive the Cold Winter Away,” the Gustav Holst/Christina Rosetti “In the bleak midwinter” and “Silent Night.”
“Noel, Noel is really the opposite of a big holiday concert with choir and orchestra,” says Les Delices artistic director Debra Nagy. “We’re offering a deeply personal shared experience. My hope is that audiences will not only find beauty and comfort in this program, but that they will also be moved and inspired by the combination of beloved song and reflective spoken word.”
For tickets, go to www.lesdelices.org.