Concert Review: Albany Pro Musica’s ‘The Many Moods of Christmas’ @ Troy Savings Bank Music Hall 12/17/23

Albany Pro Musica performed its annual “The Many Moods of Christmas” concert Sunday at a sold-out Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. 

The APM concert chorus was joined by the instrumentalists of Orchestra Pro Musica, guest tenor Rafael Davila and occasionally the crowd in an audience-engaged sing-along.  

The concert began with the orchestra playing softly and the chorus entering, holding candles, a few measures in. Once the singers were positioned on the risers, the lights dimmed and they began to sing a breathtaking a capella.   

A few songs in, guest tenor Davila was welcomed onto the stage by both the director and the audience in loud applause. And when Davila began singing along with the choir, a chill went through my body, as I was shocked by what I was listening to. Without a microphone, the tenor’s voice echoed throughout the venue, leaving those in my section sharing the same sentiment: “Wow.”

Later it was revealed to me that Davila had missed dress rehearsal, so when he joined in “Adeste Fideles” it was the first time he was singing with the choir. One couldn’t tell at all. 

In the title piece “The Many Moods of Christmas,” the group sang five songs to celebrate the holiday. While each was different in sound and tempo, the arrangement of them together was the right decision. After the four-part harmonies in “The First Nowell,” I knew the piece would be my favorite of the concert. It didn’t disappoint. 

Although the title piece was my favorite, the most moving song sung was the second to last piece, “I heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” The song began with four speakers, one from each section, reflecting on what it means to have peace during the holiday season, especially when there’s hardship for others. All spoke with passion and from the heart, but the third speaker, Daniel Washington, spoke about peace in a truly moving way. The song itself was even more stunning, as the harmonies of the chorus and the tenor’s voice mixed together effortlessly. 

“It was a great audience to perform for. We definitely fed off of their energy,” said Washington. I couldn’t agree more, especially during the sing-alongs. During “Jingle Bells” the audience was encouraged to stand and sing with the chorus under the guidance of Artistic Director José Daniel Flores-Caraballo. 

The chorus, Davila and the orchestra ended the concert on a high note – literally and figuratively – with “God Bless Us Everyone,” a piece that was smartly chosen to close the show. 

The program alternated between orchestra, chorus and both orchestra and chorus songs: 

• Fantasia on Greensleeves (1966)
• O Magnum Mysterium (1994)
• Hark the Herald Angels Sing (1961)
• What Sweeter Music (1988)
• Adeste Fideles (1988)
• Mille Cherubini in Coro (1998)
• Song of the Birds (1972)
• Cantique de Noël (1981)
• The Many Moods of Christmas, Suite 4 (1963)
  • -Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light
  • -The First Nowell
  • -O Little Town of Bethlehem
  • – I Saw Three Ships
  • – Deck the Halls
• A Christmas Scherzo (2001)
  • – Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella
  • – Here We Come A-Wassailing
  • – The Holly and the Ivy
  • – I Saw Three Ships
  • – O Come, All Ye Faithful
  • – O Tannenbaum
• Jingle Bells (2019)
• Wassail (2019)
• “Farandole” from L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2 (1872)
• Carol of the Bells (1936)
• Esta Noche (2009)
• Casitas de las Montañas
• Pastores A Belén (1955)
• White Christmas (1995)
• I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (2021)
• God Bless Us Everyone (2009)

Albany Pro Musica is a must see concert chorus and luckily, APM has more concerts in 2024. APM will perform “Seascapes” on March 3 and Bach’s B Minor Mass on April 28. APM will also hold its spring gala, “Pro Musica in Paradise,” on May 18. Tickets for all the events are available at albanypromusica.org.