Thursday, March 28, 2024 Mar 28, 2024
45° F Dallas, TX
Advertisement
Classical Music

The Best Classical Music in Dallas This December

Tucked between the tinsel there are also several interesting concerts that are not Christmas-themed.
By Catherine Womack |
Image

With Messiahs to perform and carols to sing, December is typically a busy month for classical musicians. There are, of course, plenty of concerts this month designed specifically to inspire holiday cheer. Tucked between the tinsel there are also several interesting concerts that are not Christmas-themed. Here are the best of both:

December 4: Chamber Music International Presents Violinist Clara-Jumi Kang

Hear the music of Debussy, Grieg, Ysäye and Franck performed by one of the world’s fastest rising young violin virtuosos. Clara-Jumi Kang is a 2015 Tchaikovsky Competition prize winner and 2010 Indianapolis Violin Competition gold medalist. Tickets range from $10 (for students) to $35 for this exciting evening of violin music at Dallas City Performance Hall.

December 4 and 6: SMU’s Meadows Symphony Orchestra Performs Music by Beethoven and Brahms

Before they wrap up their final exams and head home for the holidays, the talented students of the Meadows Symphony Orchestra will perform a concert of music by Beethoven (his Piano Concerto No. 4) and Brahms (his Symphony No. 4). The school’s beloved and highly acclaimed Professor of Piano Joaquín Achúcarro is the featured soloist. Tickets range from $7 to $13.

December 4, 6, 9 and 12: The World Premiere of Becoming Santa Claus at The Dallas Opera

Skip The Nutcracker this year and take the kids to The Dallas Opera instead. This brand new opera by world-renowned composer Mark Adamo is smart, charming and whimsical. Much like Wicked did for Oz’s Witch of the West, Becoming Santa Claus reveals the backstory behind how Claus become the jolly gift-giver we all know and love. Complete with a magical kingdom ruled by a sorceress and a sleigh ride to the manger scene, this new production showcases gorgeous music and a brilliant cast and is sophisticated and witty enough to entertain both young and old.

December 5: Leading Ladies at The Dallas Opera

There’s a gender gap at the podium of most major American and European orchestras, where only a handful of women hold positions as conductors. In an attempt to address this glaring inequality, The Dallas Opera is hosting the first annual Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors. Out of over 100 applicants from over 25 countries, TDO chose six qualified conductors (all under the age of 40) to participate in the inaugural institute. You can hear the results of their work together at this concert. Each of the six IWC participants will lead The Dallas Opera Orchestra at the Winspear Opera House. Tickets are only $10.

December 7: The Fort Worth Symphony Presents Handel’s Messiah

Tis the season for Hallelujahs. Every December the Southwestern Seminary Master Chorale joins the Fort Worth Symphony for a big, celebratory performance of Handel’s masterpiece in beautiful Bass Hall. It’s a Cowtown Christmas tradition worth keeping.

December 7: The Dallas Symphony’s Organ and Brass Christmas Spectacular

If you want to hear the Dallas Symphony Orchestra perform Christmas music, this big, brassy showcase is a great choice. The orchestra will perform music by Mendelssohn and Gabrieli as well as classic carols. With the help of a brilliant brass section and the massive, sonorous Lay Family Concert Organ, the DSO will sound very merry and bright.

December 7, 11, 19 and 31: The Dallas Bach Society Celebrates the Season

Hear Handel’s Messiah in its entirety at the Meyerson Symphony Center on December 7th and, if you find yourself itching to sing along, head to the Church of the Incarnation on December 11th for DBS’s annual Messiah Sing-Along. This busy group is also presenting a night of German Advent music on December 19th and a concert of favorite Bach works on New Year’s Eve.

December 10: Evgeny Kissin at The AT&T Performing Arts Center

The AT&T Performing Arts Center’s Classical Criterion series continues its impressive inaugural season this month with a solo recital by the brilliant concert pianist Evgeny Kissin. The fascinating program will feature rarely-performed works by Jewish composers alongside recitations of Yiddish poetry.

December 12: The Nasher’s Soundings Series Premieres New Music

This consistently thoughtful and innovative series heads to Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts’ for this performance at the Montgomery Arts Theater. Music by contemporary composers Klage, Theofanidis and Widmann will be performed alongside J.S. Bach’s Chaconne. The highlight of the program is the world premiere of Christopher Theofanidis’ Second Symphony for Strings and Harp (performed by the East Coast Chamber Orchestra).

December 17, 19 and 20: The Orpheus Chamber Singers Celebrate the Season

Christmas carols, ancient melodies and motets will be performed by this celebrated choral group on three different dates in three different locations (North Dallas, Lakewood and Allen). Listen, sing-along, and choose the location and day that is most convenient for you. Tickets range from $10 to $40.

December 31: Ring in the New Year with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Close out 2015 in style at the Meyerson Symphony Center. Assistant Conductor Karina Canellakis leads the DSO through music by Wagner, Debussy, Mendelssohn and Strauss. A free champagne toast at intermission helps make this the classiest way to celebrate the new year.

Related Articles

Image
Travel

Is Fort Worth Really ‘The New Austin’?

The Times of London tells us it's now the coolest city in Texas.
Image
Dallas 500

Meet the Dallas 500: Chakri Gottemukkala, o9 Solutions

The o9 solutions leader talks about garnering a $3.7 billion valuation, growing 10x over the next few years, and how the company is innovating.
Image
Local News

An Early Look at 2026 FIFA World Cup Logistics

The World Cup matches will be held in Arlington, but Dallas will be home to a great deal of team and fan experiences. We're getting an early look at what that will look like.
Advertisement