I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! And now it’s December – downhill with no brakes until the New Year. Here we go!
The Purchase PAC presents the Rob Mathes Holiday Concert
Friday, December 20, 8pm
Saturday, December 21, 8pm
Sunday, December 22, 3pm
A big band arrangement of “Jingle Bells,” a moving rendition of “Light in the Window” and the popular “William the Angel” are among the songs in this highlights special of the annual Rob Mathes Holiday Concert, dedicated in 2023 to Rob’s friend, inspiration, and “the concert mascot,” Rabbi Mark S. Golub.
Watch “Highlights of the Rob Mathes Holiday Concert – Dedicated to Rabbi Mark S. Golub” on YouTube
A Christmas Carol
Did your family have a favorite holiday musical event, movie, or TV show? Mine watched the Christmas Carol film with Alistair Cook as Scrooge, and Rob Mathes always mentions this same film during his concerts. Have you seen it?
Watch “A Christmas Carol” on YouTube
Samara Joy
In November, The Purchase PAC had the great pleasure of presenting Purchase alum and 3-time Grammy winner Samara Joy to a full house of enthusiastic fans. Listen as she and her father sing a holiday song:
Samara Joy – The Christmas Song (Live At Ardmore Music Hall / 2022) ft. Antonio McLendon
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
For many of us, December would not be complete without Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos. Here they are, performed by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
CMS Front Row Mainstage: The Brandenburg Concertos
You will have two opportunities to experience CMS live at The Purchase PAC in 2025: “Spanish Journey” with Jason Vieaux, guitar, on Saturday, February 15, and Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence on Saturday, May 3.
Paul Taylor Dance Company
To continue the Brandenburg theme, see it interpreted by Paul Taylor. Paul Taylor Dance Company’s Brandenburgs – Opus 88 was first performed in 1988 to music from Bach’s Brandenburg concertos #3 and #6.
Watch an excerpt from PTDC Brandenburgs on YouTube
And, more recently, here’s Eran Bugge dancing a solo from “Brandenburgs” on her rooftop in 2020.
Watch Brandenburgs Solo: Eran Bugge on YouTube
The Purchase PAC will present the Paul Taylor Dance Company on Friday, February 14, 2025, at 8pm. While Brandenburgs will not be on the program that evening, three other Taylor classics will be: Company B, Offenbach Overtures, and Esplanade.
Tickets and more information about PTDC at The Purchase PAC
Westchester Philharmonic presents My Light, My Love
at The Purchase PAC
Sunday, December 15, at 3pm
The Phil’s Main Stage Series continues with special guest Orli Shaham
POULENCE | Sextet
HAYDN | Keyboard Concerto No. 11
SCHUMANN | Piano Quintet
Enjoy these selections featuring Orli Shaham on YouTube:
Orli Shaham, Mozart Sonata 2 K280, III. (from Mozart Vol. 4)
Pianist Orli Shaham performs Schubert Sonata in A Major D. 664
To usher out the old year and welcome the new, here are celebrations of two special birthdays:
PBS presents Great Performances: Henry Mancini 100 at the Hollywood Bowl
Premiered on November 29, and streaming until December 27
Celebrate the centennial birthday of composer Henry Mancini with Michael Bublé, Cynthia Erivo, saxophonist Dave Koz, Monica Mancini and host Jeff Goldblum featuring Mancini’s signature songs and clips from his beloved movies and TV shows.
Watch the preview on PBS.org
Watch the full episode on PBS.org
PBS presents Great Performances: From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2025
Premieres on January 1, 2025 (check local listings)
Experience this annual beloved concert from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Johann Strauss. Conducted by Riccardo Muti for the seventh time, PBS favorite Hugh Bonneville returns to host.
From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2025 ~ About | Great Performances | PBS
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Culture Picks celebrates the performing arts. In each post, PAC staff member Coni Guhl shines the spotlight on work by artists that you know and love from their appearances at The Purchase PAC, and offers recommendations about other performing arts events that you really should not miss. Experience them all!
All times are EDT unless otherwise noted.
Pictured: Rob Mathes. Photo (c) Mark Most.
