Bermuda is not waiting until after Thanksgiving to get into the Christmas spirit, and neither is the Bermuda Chamber Choir.

On November 23 and 24 the singers, directed by Mrs Kate Ross, will present a seasonal concert of French music entitled ‘Joie’ (Joy) in the National Museum of Bermuda’s Queen Elizabeth Hall in Dockyard.

Performance times are 7pm on November 23 and 4pm on November 24, with the afternoon performance being recommended as “a wonderful time for families to introduce classical music to their children”.

Director Mrs Ross summarised the programme as “an outstanding concert of sublime Christmas music” which will feature the works of three of France’s finest composers: Saint-Saens, Poulenc and Fauré.

Expanding on the content, she described Saint-Saens’ ‘Christmas Oratorio’ as a “gorgeously rich piece comprised of ten movements telling the well-known story of the prophecy and birth of Christ, which will feature beautiful solos, enchanting ensembles and dramatic choruses”.

Poulenc’s ‘Four Christmas Motets’ reference the traditional Gregorian chants of the Epiphany and Nativity through a variety of perspectives. “The settings are at times dissonant, and at others lyrical and warm, but always poignant and potent,” the director said. “The first Motet, ‘O magnum mysterium’, is sung from the viewpoint of the animals in the barn who consider the privilege of being witness to this event. The second, ‘Quem vidistis’, asks the shepherds to describe their experience of the birth of Christ accompanied by choirs of angels. The third, ‘Videntes stellam’, is the story of the Wise Men and their offerings of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The fourth and final motet, ‘Hodie Christus natus est’ is from mankind’s perspective, and is a hymn of rejoicing and hopefulness.”

Rounding out the programme will be Faure’s ‘Cantique de Jean Racine’ which Mrs Ross said was another example of French vocal music at its finest.

“The lilting introduction sets the tone of this exquisite setting of Racine’s poem ‘Ambrosia’. This piece pairs beautifully with the ‘Christmas Oratorio’, as Saint-Saëns was Fauré’s teacher.”

The Bermuda Chamber Choir is a community choir which performs under the auspices of the Bermuda School of Music (BSM). Its mission is to learn the best of choral music from great composers, while keeping alive the fine art of choral singing in Bermuda. The accompanying orchestra is led by Ms Jennifer Sheridan, and for this concert BSM faculty member and organist Mr Olive Grant will also provide accompaniment.

Choir director Mrs Ross began teaching music in Bermuda in 1983, since which time she has become a well-known figure in local musical and theatrical circles. She will be directing the music for the Bermuda Musical & Dramatic Society’s upcoming annual pantomime. A former director of music at the Bermuda High School for Girls, Mrs Ross is now the school’s head of senior years and international baccalaureate coordinator.

Mr Grant is well known to local audiences, having performed at numerous Bermuda Festival and Bermuda School of Music events. In addition to teaching piano and solfeggio at the BSM, he is also the organist at Christ Church, Warwick, and a member of the rock band Working Title.

Tickets (sponsors $55, adults $30, students $15) for both performances are available at Worldview Travel (formerly C Travel) on Burnaby Street, Chamber Choir members, and the Bermuda School of Music.