Christmas is a time for music and merrymaking. (klpac pic)
PETALING JAYA: Ah, December – the time of the year for Santa Claus, presents under the tree, fairy lights and, apparently, musical performances!
Next month, the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) is presenting its “Christmas Extravaganza”, a “massive” concert three years in the making that will feature more than 150 singers and musicians.
Directed by Ian Chow, what makes this show unique is that it brings together three orchestras – the klpac Orchestra, klpac Symphonic Band, and klpac String Orchestra – under the batons of their respective resident conductors, Lee Kok Leong, Cheryl Mah, and Andrea Sim.
The concert will also showcase the talents of the Young Choral Academy Chorus, led by Mak Chi Hoe.
Chow will be joined by co-director and executive producer Faridah Merican, who will lend her voice as the narrator, sharing her memories of Christmas as a child right up to the present-day.
So, what can audiences expect? The heartwarming programme features traditional Christmas carols the likes of “Joy to the World”, “The First Noel”, “Silent Night”, “Deck The Halls”, “The Little Drummer Boy”, “Winter Wonderland”, and many others.
The concert will feature three of klpac’s orchestras. (Goh Bong Hiang pic)
Sopranos Heah Junn, 15, and Heah Ernn, 17, from the Young Choral Academy will then perform Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria” – featured in Disney’s “Fantasia” (1940) – and the powerful “Amazing Grace” by John Newton, respectively.
Turning up the fun factor is the Modern Carol Medley comprising “Jingle Bell Rocks”, “Santa Claus is Coming Town”, “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer”, and many other festive tunes that will have you tapping your feet and singing along.
The concert ends on a grand scale with George Frideric Handel’s most recognisable compositions – the “Hallelujah Chorus” from “Messiah” – promising to have you leaving the hall filled with Christmas cheer!
klpac’s ‘Christmas Extravaganza’ runs from Dec 9-11 (Friday to Sunday), with a preview on Thursday, Dec 8. Tickets, priced at RM50 for the preview or otherwise RM60, RM80 or RM100, can be purchased by clicking here.
For further information, visit klpac’s website, call 03-40479000, or send a WhatsApp message to 018-227 7212.