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Published on 12/04/1995 All articles from this issue

Peninsula Women's Chorus holiday concerts on Dec. 8, 15-16

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The award-winning Peninsula Women's Chorus of Foothill College under the direction of Patricia Hennings will present holiday concerts featuring Benjamin Britten's "Ceremony of Carols," at 8 p.m. Friday at Los Altos United Methodist Church and at 8 p.m. Friday and Dec. 15 and 16 at St. Patrick's Seminary, Menlo Park.

"There are a number of women's groups in the Bay Area, and the Peninsula Women's Chorus is tops," said Vance George, director fo the renowned San Francisco Symphony Chorus.

The Peninsula Women's Chorus is known not only for its warm, expressive tone, but also for programming a balance of exciting new compositions and traditional favorites to Renaissance motets.

In the first category the chorus will perform R. Murray Schafer's "Snowforms," a sculpture in sound punctuated by some of the many Eskimo words for snow, "Regina angelorum" by Pekka Kostiainen, and on a lighter note, "Seven Joys of Christmas," by bay area composer, Kirke Mechem. Representing 14th century literature is the ever popular "Ceremony of Carols" in addition to "Tota pulcra es" by Maurice Durufle, and Tomas Luis da Vittoria's "O magnum mysterium."

The chorus closes its concert with several traditional favorites for choir, audience and organ. Complementing this vocal feast is a solo performance by organist Larry Crummer performing works of Johann Sebastian Bach.

The Peninsula Women's Chorus, accompanied by pianist Josephine Gandolfi, has distinguished itself all over the world. The 60-voice chorus collaborated with the West Bay Opera in an October1995 production of Puccini's "Suor Angelica," won second prize in its division at the prestigious 1994 Tallinn International Choral Festival in Estonia, was invited to perform at the 1987 and 1993 national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association in San Antinio, a singular honor. The chorus' highly praised CD, "Treasures," is available in the Bay Area.

Performances will be: Dec. 8, 8 p.m. at the Los Altos United Methodist Church at Foothill Expressway at Magdalena; Dec. 15 and 16, 8 p.m. at St. Patrick's Seminary, 320 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park. Tickets are $8-12 at the door or through the Peninsula Box Office: 322-3100. Advance ticket purchases are advised for St. Patick's Seminary performances. For more information, call 327-3095.