CHARIS HOLIDAY CONCERT REATURING BRITTEN AND FAVORITE CAROLS

Charis Chamber Voices, an auditioned chorus of 30 men and women from Westchester and Fairfield counties, will ring in the holiday season with two concerts, the first at the Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco, 605 Millwood Rd., (Rte 133), Mt. Kisco, on Saturday, December 7, at 4 p.m. and the second at the Bedford Presbyterian Church, The Village Green, Bedford, NY, on Sunday, December 8, at 4 p.m..  The program for this year's "Candlelight Christmas Contert" features a Britten cantata for choir, harp and organ which Britten composed in 1938 for the BBC radio as tensions that would explode into World War II menaced Europe.  The cantata, with interludes of poetry and scripture are read between the choral sections.  The work has been performed only once before in North America.  Also on the program are motets by Spanish composer Guerrero (1528-1599), Minnesota's contemporary composer Stephen Paulus' "Jesu Carols," and "O Magnum mysterium" by New York-based contemporary composer Nancy Wertsch.

The concerts will be followed by wine and cheese receptions.  Tickets are $25 ($20 for seniors and students) which may be purchased in advance at www.charisvocals.com or at the door.