Christmas with Cantus: Lessons and Carols for Our Time offers a modern reinterpretation of a timeless tradition. Blending poetry with sacred and secular song, Cantus reimagines the beloved format of Nine Lessons and Carols made famous by the Choir of King’s College at the University of Cambridge.

With characteristic warmth and virtuosity, the low-voice ensemble weaves together Christmas favorites such as “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen” and Saunder Choi’s incomparable setting of “Angels We Have Heard on High” alongside signature arrangements of Sara Bareilles’ gently lilting “Love Is Christmas” and Pentatonix’s “Light in the Hallway”. The program also spans a range of cultures and contexts from 12th-century chant by Hildegard von Bingen to Christian Onyeji’s thrilling “Amuworo ayi otu nwa”.

The result is a nuanced program that both celebrates tradition and speaks to the moment. Join Cantus for the can’t-miss concert of the holiday season!

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The “engaging” (New Yorker) low-voice ensemble Cantus is widely known for its trademark warmth and blend, innovative programming and riveting performances of music ranging from the Renaissance to the 21st century. The Washington Post has hailed the Cantus sound as having both “exalting finesse” and “expressive power” and refers to the “spontaneous grace” of its music-making. The Philadelphia Inquirer called the group nothing short of “exquisite.”  

As one of the nation’s few full-time vocal ensembles, Cantus has come to prominence with its distinctive approach to creating music. Working without a conductor, the members of Cantus rehearse and perform as chamber musicians, each contributing to the entirety of the artistic process, creating programs that give voice to shared human experiences. As the Star Tribune has written, “The main hallmark of the Cantus sound has always been sheer quality and an unbroken belief in the special way that vocal music has of warming and invigorating the human spirit.”