The First Presbyterian Church Choir, Carol Choir, and Orchestra will present “Christmas Fantasia,” a concert under the direction of Dr. Sean McCarthy, on Sunday, December 21 at 5:00 PM. A number of evocative English carols are included in Ralph Vaughan Williams’ magnificent Fantasia on Christmas Carols for baritone, chorus, and orchestra. Constantine Tsourakis, baritone, will be the featured soloist for this work, and also for Gerald Finzi’s equisite “Christmas Scene,” In Terra Pax, Op. 39, for soprano and baritone soloists, choir and orchestra. Soprano Jennifer Groves will appear in the role of the Angel of the Lord. Organist Dr. Stephen Rapp will return as soloist with the orchestra for a performance of the original version of G.F. Handel’s Organ Concerto in F major, Op. 4, No. 4, which features a lively choral “Alleluia” conclusion. The FPC Choir was privileged to present the American premiere of this newly rediscovered work in 2007.

The twenty children of Presbyterian Choir School’s Carol Choir will join the adult choir for a selection of favorite carols from the British Isles, and will be featured in the English version of “Away In a Manger” and the traditional carol, “See Amid the Winter’s Snow.” The audience will be invited to sing-a-long on rafter-raising settings by Vaughan Williams and David Willcocks of the carols “God Rest You Merry Gentlemen,” “Good King Wenceslas,” and that crown jewel of all English carols: “The First Nowell.” Of course, it wouldn’t be a truly “English” Christmas without something by John Rutter. This year the choir will present his poignant setting of “What Sweeter Music.” The concert will open with a performance by the orchestra of Vaughan Williams’ sweeping “Fantasia on Greensleeves,” which is based on the tune of the carol “What Child Is This.”

The concert is free with a donation accepted at intermission to benefit First Presbyterian’s Outreach Ministries. Early seating is recommended. For more information please call (203) 966-0002.