St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church is presenting Carols by Candlelight on Sunday, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m. in the church’s sanctuary at 351 Main St. The concert features the St. Stephen’s Festival Choir, St. Stephen’s Children’s Choir, soloists and a 26-piece professional orchestra (many from the Ridgefield Symphony) directed by Minister of Music, Scott Toperzer (shown). Featured music includes hymns, carols, solos, and choruses from the great works of Bach, Berlioz, Mendelssohn, and Saint-Saens.
Highlights of the evening include selections from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, with recitatives performed by Thomas Carr, baritone, and Ian Shearson, tenor. The concert will present a new arrangement of a carol by St. Stephen’s parishioner Gina Wilson: Mary’s Lullaby, with the St. Stephen’s Children’s Choir. Lydia Toperzer, soprano, will be soloist in “O Holy Night.” William Joyner, tenor, who has performed in some of North America and Europe’s foremost opera stages, will join the orchestra and choir in Saint-Saëns’ moving “Domine ego credidi” (“In my heart I believe, O Lord”). Like last year’s Carols by Candlelight, the concert will conclude with the entire hall singing Handel’s “Hallelujah” from Messiah.
A donation of $20 per adult is suggested to help defray expenses. Doors will open at 4:30 for seating.
