Carols By Candlelight – Pacific Chorale Offers Stunning Music and Setting

Held at Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach, the Pacific Chorale’s performance of Carols By Candlelight was the perfect embodiment of all that is beautiful about this holiday season.

Under the skilled guidance of artistic director and conductor Robert Istad and assistant conductor Kibsaim Escarcega, the twenty-four members of the Chorale presented a lovely, moving, and ambitious program that did not disappoint. Musical accompaniment by Jung-A Lee on the church’s magnificent organ and David Clemensen on piano were both perfect.

The 75-minute concert began with the Chorale positioned in the church center and side aisles, with the prelude “In dulci jubilo” and a medley of “Away in the Manger,” before moving to the performance space in the front of the altar.  From start to finish, the voices soared and spun their acoustic magic.

With the enormous organ pipes and soaring church ceiling as a backdrop, the chorale proceeded through a wonderfully varied set that included several musical choices that allowed audience sing-along on certain verses, including “The First Nowell” and “Silent Night.”

Among the many highlights were a delightful version of the traditional Scottish folk melody “Auld Lang Syne (1788),” featuring mezzo-soprano Emily Border, and a fabulously moving, serene piece Taylor Scott Davis’ “Solstice (2020)” followed by the haunting “Come Healing,” featuring sopranos Rebecca Hasquet and Joslyn Sarshad, mezzo-soprano Denean R. Dyson, and David Clemensen on piano.

The concluding “Dona Nobis Pacem,” featuring mezzo-soprano Stephanie Shepson and baritone Matthew Kellaway was truly memorable, soaring, emotional, and profound. The audience was appropriately reverent when listening to such a graceful rendition of a lustrous work.

While singling out these beautiful works, that is not to give short shrift to the rest of the fine program that included the joy of watching the entire program by candlelight; several works accompanied by Chorale members on guitar; and a bevy of musical works that also included Herbert Howells’ “A Spotless Rose,” a moving arrangement of “Angels We Have Heard On High” by Benjamin Harlan, Nico Muhly’s “Magnificat from First Service,” and Peter Phillips’ “Christmas motet O Beatum et Sacrosanctum Diem.” The entire program was a true delight to hear and see. The Chorale is both beautifully voiced and exudes palpable joy when performing the music.

Coming up this coming Monday the 18th, you have another quite different chance to see the Chorale perform this time a family-friendly program, Tis the Season! at Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Joining the choir for this performance will be the Southern California Children’s Chorus, members of Pacific Symphony, and The Man in Red himself, Santa Claus.

Carols By Candlight was an enormously uplifting and joyous evening of great music and visual beauty. Be sure to add this annual event to your must-do list in the future, and take in the Pacifc Chorale’s rich vocal oeuvre whenever and wherever you’re able.

• Genie Davis; photos in gallery, Genie Davis; images throughout the story provided Courtesy of Pacific Chorale