Dec. 18 marked the opening night of Chor Leoni’s annual Christmas concert. Lit with bright red, blue and magenta hues, the inside of St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church continues to be a magical venue. After attending last year, I was drawn to return, hoping to surround myself with holiday joy.
The lights dimmed so that only blue lighting remained as the members of the choir emerged carrying lit candles. The opening song, “Wonder Nouvelet” was the first of five world premieres promised for the night. Chor Leoni’s guest instrumentalists quickly established themselves as the bright shining stars of the event.
Cameron Wilson with Chor Leoni
Photo: Ashley Gattey
Almost all of the musicians were involved in this first song. Violinist Cameron Wilson played from the church’s nave alongside conductor Erick Lichte. On stage, harpist Vivian Chen, santour-player Saina Khaledi, and pianists Tina Chang and Karen Lee-Morlang joined in for the dynamic piece. Some members of the choir also seemed to be holding hand bells as ringing could be heard from all around. I was particularly impressed with the leadership of Lichte who seemed in control of the moment despite the challenge of having musicians throughout the whole space.
After the piece ended, the lights brightened to orange while the singers assembled on stage. The following set of pieces, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Ding! Dong! Merrily on High”, were familiar favourites, raising the spirits and bringing a smile to the audience’s faces. The choir showcased good control while singing the long melodic Glorias.
Saina Khaledi (santour), Keith Sinclair (guitar) and Vivian Chen (harp) with Chor Leoni conducted by Erick Lichte
Photo: Ashley Gattey
The next two works, both commissioned by Chor Leoni, were described by Lichte as “indie-pop”. One of my personal favourites of the night was Sufjan Stevens’s “Angels We Have Heard on High”, arranged by Ken Cormier. This contemporary version of the carol felt grand, motivating and polished. Again, the strength of the instrumentalists made it stand out as one of the more complex and interesting pieces of the night.
Saina Khaledi with Chor Leoni
Photo: Ashley Gattey
The third world premiere was Khaledi’s “My Beloved (Song for Yalda Night)”. The santour-player introduced the piece, explaining how it was inspired by her father and the Persian celebration of the longest night. She then began to play an intricate and passionate introduction to the song. I was blown away by the uniqueness of the santour’s sound amongst the dark tones of the low-voice choir.
An audience favourite of the night was “Jubilo” by Composer-in-Residence Marie-Claire Saindon. A so-called “medieval carol”, it featured fiddling and rhythmic strikes on what appeared to be castanets. The audience—and Lichte himself—bounced along to the enthusiastic voices of the choir. To match the upbeat energy of the piece, the lights shone bright pink and yellow over the scene. In slower sections, Chor Leoni revealed rich and chocolatey vocals. Wilson brought so much fervor in his solos that it was hard to tear one’s eyes away. The work received two rounds of applause as a clear highlight of the night.
Photo: Ashley Gattey
This concert was distinct mostly in its nontraditional programming and community feel. With almost half of the songs being world premieres, the lineup didn’t feel tired or overdone. Instead, there was a sense of excitement about the unknown. Chor Leoni calmed any possible anxiety about the newer works with a very cozy environment—the softly-lit church—and playful interaction with the audience. They danced, jokingly made reference to The (St.) Andrews’ (Wesley) Sisters and even brought people on stage for a sleigh ride (myself included). This effort to engage the community made the concert feel comforting like a local, homegrown event.
Lichte and Chor Leoni put together a special experience that piqued audience interest with its twists and turns. At this time of the year when an emphasis is placed on tradition, it’s nice to attend an event that breaks away from the expected while still delivering the celebrated classics.
