Amidst the bustle of the holiday season, Chor Leoni ushered audience members into the serene atmosphere of St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church for their annual Christmas concert on Dec 19. The space was lit with reds, blues, and purples while golden lanterns hung from the ceiling. The beauty of the church was highlighted under this unique lighting, creating an almost fantasy effect within the large arches. Lighting designer Keagan Elrick had set the stage for the magical evening welcoming Chor Leoni’s largest-ever opening night audience.
The first song of the evening was “The Long Night” arranged by founding member, Artistic Director, and conductor Erick Lichte. The performance was off to a strong start as the choir entered from the front of the church and surrounded the audience, carrying candles that drew the eye in the dim environment. Lichte and violinist Cameron Wilson stood in the aisles right beside those seated for the show. The audience was enveloped in sound as the soothing voices of the choir came from the front, back and sides of the church accompanied by violin, bass, and percussion. Wilson was a highlight of the evening adding depth to many of the songs the choir performed and matching their energy flawlessly.
Next on the program was Michael Engelhardt’s arrangement of “Gaudete!”. The choir gathered at the front of the stage for this fun and engaging rendition. Each member impressively sang while swaying, turning to one another, and adding plenty of movement. The title of the piece, which is Latin for “rejoice,” was reflected in the liveliness of the choir and the unique percussion accompaniment. After the softness of the opening piece, “Gaudete!” added a dose of verve with its levity and brightness.
Chor Leoni conducted by Erick Lichte. Photo: Philip Jack
Several musicians accompanied Chor Leoni throughout the night including pianists Tina Chang and Karen Lee-Morlang, bassist Laurence Mollerup, guitarist Keith Sinclair, and violinist Cameron Wilson. My personal favourite moment of the concert came near its end when all these musicians participated. This section consisted of three folk songs: “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem,” “Turlutte Acadienne Montréalaise,” and “The Mummer Song”.
The first began with a solo by Wilson. The violinist captivated the audience with his spirited, bluegrass style playing. Soon, he was joined by the choir, bass, guitar, and piano to create a sound infused with camaraderie and joy. Again, the choir incorporated swaying and some singers even sat on stage, bringing a more casual feel to the performance as if the church were a local bar and the audience were old friends.
“Turlutte Acadienne Montréalaise” was similarly engaging though more spare as the choir sang a capella with only their rhythmic stomping to accompany them. However, the stripped back sound did not take away from the performance’s energy; some audience members bobbed their heads along with the beat!
Finally, “The Mummer Song” brought all the instruments back for one more playful piece. This song began with yelping and shouts from the choir and incorporated actions that matched some of the lyrics. Near the end of the performance, the singers themselves started dancing with one another, swinging each other around and letting out whooping sounds as they did. This ending to the folk song section left a smile on the faces of many of the audience members who, like myself, may not have expected such upbeat energy at a Christmas concert.
Chor Leoni conducted by Erick Lichte. Photo: Philip Jack
The evening came full circle as the choir surrounded the audience with candles again for their last song, “Silent Night”. The audience was encouraged to sing along with the choir for the first three refrains, creating a warm feeling of unity. The lights were low for this final song and since the sun had disappeared, the church had dipped in the deepest darkness of the evening. The sole light came from the candles held by members of Chor Leoni as Lichte led them through the final refrain of the song. This peaceful ending allowed the audience to breathe deeply and appreciate the gorgeous acoustics of St. Andrew’s-Wesley United.
Christmas with Chor Leoni has become an annual tradition for many, and their incredible show this year will surely add more fans to the list. The well-balanced program and immersive environment resulted in a magical evening.
Chor Leoni has several more Christmas performances scheduled for 2024. Showtimes and tickets can be found here.
