I Cantanti presents "A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" on Sunday, November 29

I Cantanti, Northfield's Chamber Choir directed by Wayne Kivell, will present its biennial Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols concert at Skinner Chapel, Carleton College, on Sunday, Nov. 29th at 7:30 p.m.

First presented in Northfield in 1997, the Nine Lessons and Carols has grown here in popularity. This is the seventh time I Cantanti has presented this concert, modeled after the annual Christmas Eve performance at Kings College in Cambridge, England. The concert features nine Biblical readings recounting the Christmas story from Old and New Testament readings, each followed by choral selections or carols which elaborate the readings. The readers this year are people who are active in the leadership of the community.

This year’s performance will have a decided French flavor, with carols such as “Le Sommeil de l’Enfant Jesus,” “Il est ne le Divin Enfant,” “Noel Nouvelet,” and the “Shepherd’s Farewell” from L’Enfance du Christ by Hector Berlioz.  Traditional favorites on the program are "O Magnum Mysterium” by Victoria, a setting of “Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming” by Jan Soderstrom, and “The Shepherd’s Carol” by William Billings.

Le Donne Cantanti, the women's ensemble of I Cantanti, will also perform “There is No Rose” by Z. Randall Stroop,  and John Rutter’s arrangement of “Personent Hodie.”

The audience will be invited to sing along on carols throughout the performance. Accompanists for the concert are Richard Collman and Laurie Williams on keyboard, Lori Pearson on flute, and Kari Kust on oboe. This concert is open to the public and all ages. A free-will exit offering will be taken.