Music
“French Dreams and Games,” the music of France during the reigns of Louis XIV and XV, will be streamed online at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 5. Violinists Miriam Scholz-Carlson and Marc Levine, harpsichordist Paul Boehnke and viola da gamba player Julie Elhard will perform compositions by Marin Marais, Antoine Dornel and Jean-Marie Leclair. The songs were intended to accompany a variety of activities, from the epic to the mundane. For tickets or more information, visit lyrabaroque.org or call 651-321-2214.
“A Copasetic Christmas Carol,” a jazz adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic holiday story created by Doug Haining and Charmin Michelle, will be performed in a virtual concert by the Twin Cities Seven at 7 p.m. Thursday, December 10. Recorded live at the Dakota in Minneapolis, the seven performers are singer Charmin Michelle, Doug Haining on alto and soprano saxophone and clarinet, Steve Wright on trumpet, Dave Graf on trombone, Rick Carlson on piano, Kent Saunders on guitar, Steve Pikal on bass and Trevor Haining on drums. Ben Sidran narrates the tale, which uses a suite of jazz compositions with “hep cat” lyrics to tell of the redemption of Ebeneezer Scrooge. The link to the concert is free of charge. Visit crowdcast.io/e/5b6zobyl.
“A Bass Viol Journey” featuring selections from Schenck’s Nymphs of the Rhine, Gottfried Finger’s Pastoralle from Puer Natus in Bethlehem, Marais’ Le Bijou and other music will be performed online via Zoom by the bass viol duo of Eva Lymenstull and Malachai Komanoff Bandy. The music begins at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday, December 11-12. For tickets or more information, visit lyrabaroque.org or call 651-321-2214.
Lessons and Carols for Our Time, a contemporary take on the British holiday tradition, will be performed by the eight-man vocal ensemble Cantus in online concerts in December. Weaving together poetry and song, the program draws upon such classic songs as “Silent Night” and “A La Nanita Nana,” Franz Biebl’s “Ave Maria”as well as modern works by Abbie Betinis and Saunder Choi. The first half of the Christmas with Cantus program will be available from 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 11, through 7:30 p.m. Sunday, December 13. The second half will be available from 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 18, through 7:30 p.m. Sunday, December 20. Tickets are by donation with $20 suggested. To receive the link, visit cantussings.org.
Theater
Two virtual holiday programs are being offered by the Ordway. The Hip Hop Nutcracker, contemporary dance set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless score, will stream at 7 p.m. Friday, November 27. Tickets are $20. “Christmas with the Griswolds,” a conversation with National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation stars Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo, will stream live at 7 p.m. Saturday, November 28. Tickets are $25. To register, visit ordway.org.
Rhapsody in Black, playwright and actor Leland Gantt’s one-person journey for understanding and transcending racism in America, is being streamed online by the Ordway from November 30 through December 6. The screening is free and so is the live Q&A with Gantt at 7 p.m. Saturday, December 5. Visit ordway.org.
Exhibits
Northern Clay Center, 2424 E. Franklin Ave., is holding its annual holiday exhibition through December 30. Eighty-five artists are displaying for show and sale their handmade pottery, sculpture and ceramic jewelry. Visit northernclaycenter.org or call 612-339-8007.
Find the perfect gift at Landmark Center’s Old-Fashioned Holiday Bazaar. The 42nd annual event is being held online from December 3-13 at landmarkcenter.org/old-fashioned-holiday-bazaar/. There you will find jewelry, household decor, woven and wearable art, children’s toys and clothing, handmade soaps and lotions, edible goods and more. Links to popular holiday music will be available along with recipes for a festive holiday cocktail and mocktail.
Books
Next Chapter Booksellers, 38 S. Snelling Ave., will host free online readings and discussions with authors Adam Falkner and his poetry collection, The Willies, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 1; Fred Guttenberg and his book, Find the Helpers: What 9/11 and Parkland Taught Me About Recovery, Purpose & Hope, at 7 p.m. Thursday, December 3; Jerri Chisholm and her dystopian novel for young adults, Escaping Eleven, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 8; Rachel Gold and her novel, Synclair, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 9; and poet Margaret Hasse and illustrator Sharon DeMark and their new collection, Shelter, at 7 p.m. Thursday, December 10. To register, visit nextchapterbooksellers.com.
Et cetera
The European Christmas Market has gone virtual this year. Instead of the usual festive outdoor setting in downtown Saint Paul, the market is operating a website with 23 vendors offering handmade treasures and the market’s own limited-edition gift boxes. Holiday entertainment is also periodically available on European Christmas Market’s Facebook page. For more information, visit stpaulchristmasmarket.org.
“Keeping the Weather Out,” a how-to webinar on winterizing your home, will be offered via Zoom from 10 a.m.-noon Thursday, December 3. Sponsored by Rethos, the class will demonstrate how to seal up cracks and drafts, perform basic window and door repairs and other simple weatherization techniques. The cost is $10 or whatever you can afford. To register, visit rethos.org.
A holiday tree-lighting ceremony will kick off Union Depot’s seasonal programming with an online video special at 7 p.m. Friday, December 4. The tree will be lit throughout the month of December on the plaza in front of Union Depot. The holiday bake sale is also online. Small, medium and large bags filled with treats and sweets from local vendors may be ordered for pickup on December 12. Visit uniondepot.org.
COMMENTS TERMS OF SERVICE
The Villager welcomes comments from readers. Please include your full name and the neighborhood in which you live. Be respectful of others and stay on topic. We reserve the right to remove any comment we deem to be profane, rude, insulting or hateful. Comments will be reviewed before being published.
