The Roueche Chorale will mark the 20th anniversary of its annual Chattanooga Candlelight Service of Lessons & Carols - a milestone significant enough that chorale singers began rehearsals for it in September.
One of the most popular and anticipated concerts of the season, the Roueche Chorale and Orchestra present a mixture of Advent and Christmas music combined with scripture telling the birth of Jesus. The lessons (scripture) are read by nine guest lay readers.
"This will be a wonderful opportunity for our community and the surrounding tri-state area to experience Advent and the Christmas season in a traditional and reverent way. The message of the gospel of our Lord will be clearly proclaimed," says founding director Jeff Roueche.
To mark their two-decade anniversary, the chorale will be joined by guest soprano soloist Indra Thomas of Atlanta.
If you go
› What: 20th Chattanooga Candlelight Service of Lessons & Carols› Where: Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, 214 E. Eighth St.› When: 7 p.m Thursday-Friday, Dec. 12-13› Admission: Free› For more information: 423-855-2981
Thomas has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera, Royal Albert Hall and Carnegie Hall. Among numerous orchestras with which she has appeared are the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony and Leipzig's Gewandhaus Orchestra – as well as with orchestras in Paris, Spain, Brazil, the Netherlands, Japan, Finland, South Korea, Malaysia, Abu Dhabi, Boston and Detroit.
She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance of the "Porgy and Bess Suite" on the New Year's Eve broadcast "Live from Lincoln Center" and was Grammy-nominated for her recording of Michael Tippett's "A Child of Our Time" with the London Symphony Orchestra.
She is a graduate of Shorter College and of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. Thomas is now visiting professor of voice and director of opera at Shorter University.
Concertgoers are encouraged to arrive early to hear the 20-minute prelude performed by a harpist while guests arrive.
Hampton Baxter will begin and end the service with the sounding of the shofar. Among songs the choir will perform will be "Gloria in Excelsis Deo" by Mark Hayes, John Rutter's "Christmas Lullaby," "The Majesty and Glory of Your Name" by Tom Fettke, and an arrangement of "Let Heaven and Nature Sing" by Dennis Allen.
"Our annual program has become a tradition for many families and we're honored to be part of their holiday season," Roueche says. "This promises to be a beautiful program that will stir your heart and lift your spirit."