In 1990, when five-time Grammy Winner Paul Halley left NYC for the northwest corner of Connecticut, he formed the acclaimed children's choir Chorus Angelicus, and it's adult counterpart Gaudeamus.
The next year, Halley was ready with the very first Christmas Angelicus, a concert of holiday music by the combined choirs, with readings by actor and storyteller John McDonough. Halley relocated to Nova Scotia in 2007, but the choirs and Christmas Angelicus continue to be a yearly tradition for many in Connecticut and beyond.
For Joyful Noise's artistic director Gabriel Löfvall, the challenge year after year is to balance tried and true holiday classics, while introducing the choirs and audiences to new holiday works. " All year 'round my ears are attentive to things that could work out in Christmas Angelicus," said Löfvall. "We go for a mixture of true and tried, but we also go for arrangements that are very old in essence, but rearranged, repossessed, and rethought."
The 23rd annual Christmas Angelicus gets underway this weekend with performances Friday night in Simsbury, and Sunday afternoon in Torrington. For more, go to Chorusangelicus.com.
