Celebrating its 36th season, a Christmas Vespers is presented each year at Oklahoma City University. 250 University singers and instrumentalists gather to offer the service designed to acknowledge the Advent season. A collage of music, much of it from the great choral composers of this century and centuries past also includes songs and carols from many traditions; each of these works prefaced by a reading of scripture or poetry.
The program was offered on Friday, December 12th and on Saturday, December 13th at First Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City, and features four University choirs, special guest organist Louise Bass, guest narrator James A Pickel and the Vespers Orchestra, each service opening and concluding in candlelight. Featured works include Bless the Lord, O my Soul by Jonathan Dove, Noel Des Enfants Qui n'ont plus de maison of Claude Debussy, There is no Rose from A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten, John Rutter's What Sweeter Music, the Magnificat of ArvoPärt, the Finale from The Christmas Cantata of Arthur Honegger and more!
Hear this special program for the holiday season on Performance Oklahoma, Saturday evening, December 20, at 8pm on Classical 88.7-1!