Boston Pops tours northeast with Christmas concert

The Boston Pops leave the friendly confines of Symphony Hall for a series of Christmas holiday concerts in 6 neighboring states, coincidental with their annual holiday series in Boston, which runs until Dec. 27, 2009.

Boston Pops also have released their new arrangement of “The 12 Days of Christmas,” by Broadway composer and arranger David Chase. Featuring the Boston Pops Orchestra and Tanglewood Festival chorus under the direction of Keith Lockhart, it was recorded live at Symphony Hall during the 2008 Holiday Pops season. The piece is available in three formats: standard MP3 (320 kb/sec) for $3.99; AIFF hi definition stereo for $4.99; and WMA Windows Media hi-definition for $4.99; download at www.BostonPops.org/digital.

• December 5 – Storrs, Connecticut – Jorgenson Center for the Performing Arts – 8:00 p.m.
• December 6 – Brookville, New York – Tilles Center for the Performing Arts – 2:00 p.m.
• December 6 – Newark, New Jersey – New Jersey Performing Arts Center – 7:00 p.m.
• December 12 – Lowell, Massachusetts – Lowell Memorial Auditorium – 7:30 p.m.
• December 13 – Manchester, New Hampshire – Verizon Wireless Arena – 2:30 p.m.
• December 17 – Uncasville, Connecticut – Mohegan Sun Arena – 7:30 p.m.
• December 19 – Providence, Rhode Island – Dunkin’ Donuts Center – 7:30 p.m.

BOSTON POPS 2009 HOLIDAY POPS TOUR

All programs and artists subject to change

THE BOSTON POPS ESPLANADE ORCHESTRA
KEITH LOCKHART, Conductor

Silent Night arr. Rathbone

SWINGLE SINGERS

Christmas Canticles arr. O’Loughlin

Presenting the Swingle Singers:
Joanna Goldsmith, Sara Brimer, soprano; Clare Wheeler, Lucy Bailey, alto;
Richard Eteson, Christopher Jay, tenor; Kevin Fox, Tobias Hug, bass

Concerto Grosso arr. Eteson
Away in a Manger arr. Meinir/orch. Sebesky
Deck the Halls/What Child Is This? arr. Swingle/orch. Sebesky

Tomorrow is My Dancing Day Hollenbeck

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring Bach

Christmas Anthology arr. Richardson
Gloria in the Highest – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas –
O Come, O Come Emmanuel – For Onto Us a Child is Born

INTERMISSION

Joy! Sebesky

Carol Medley arr. Rathbone
Deck the Halls – I Saw Three Ships – We Wish You a Merry Christmas –
The Holly and the Ivy – The First Noel – Past Three O’Clock
The Twelve Days of Christmas arr. Chase
SWINGLE SINGERS

Sleigh Ride Anderson

A Visit from St. Nicholas (‘Twas the Night Before Christmas) Text by Clement C. Moore
TBD, narrator

Santa Medley arr. Meader
The Man with the Bag – Santa Baby – Santa Claus is Coming to Town
SWINGLE SINGERS

A Merry Little Sing-Along arr. Reisman
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Have Yourself a Merry
Little Christmas – Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! –
Winter Wonderland – Jingle Bells

Swingle Singers join the Boston Pops

Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart will lead “America’s Orchestra,” joined by the young a cappella group the Swingle Singers, in a host of familiar holiday favorites such as the Pops’ signature “Sleigh Ride,” the traditional “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” and the Pops’ show-stopping new arrangement, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Additionally, each family-friendly evening of classic seasonal favorites concludes with a visit from Santa and a holiday sing-along featuring “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Let It Snow,” “The Christmas Song,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “Jingle Bells.”

Boston Pops Holiday concerts began in 1974 with a three-concert series at Symphony Hall. Since then, public demand for the performances has increased dramatically, and this holiday season the Boston Pops will offer 32 concerts at Symphony Hall, in addition to its tour performances.

The Boston Pops will perform three concerts in the Berkshires during the 2010 Tanglewood season.