Chez Nous: Christmas with Elektra

Dear friends of Elektra,

Did you know there's a directly Canadian link to the genesis of one of the 20th Century's most beloved Christmas works?

In 1942, prior to boarding a ship in Halifax harbour to return home from a visit to Canada, England's most celebrated composer visited a bookstore. Benjamin Britten picked up a copy of The English Galaxy of Shorter Poems, by Gerald Bullett and, during the ensuing ocean voyage, composed one of his most famous, enduring works, A Ceremony of Carols, scored for 3-part women's choir and harp. The twelve short movements of this masterpiece, using English poems from the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries, evoke the mystery and humility of Christ's birth.

The work has gone on to be re-arranged to be sung by mixed choirs and children's choirs, but its the original version for women's choir that you will hear as the centrepiece of Chez Nous: Christmas with Elektra, this Saturday!

Come join us and rediscover this modern treasure of choral music, along with other favourites and new works you'll love, all wrapped in the warmth of Elektra's glorious sound.

Chez Nous: Christmas with Elektra THE CONCERT

Sat, Nov 27,2010 · 2 pm
Queens Avenue United Church
529 Queens Ave (at 6th St)
New Westminster, BC

Sat, Nov 27,2010 · 7:30 pm
Ryerson United Church
2195 W45 Ave
Vancouver, BC
Adults $28 · Seniors $22

with special guests:

Krutzen/McGhee Duo
(Heidi Krutzen, harp & Lorna McGhee, flute)

Vancouver Bach Children's Chorus (Marisa Gaetanne, director)

Stephen Smith, piano & organ

Map to Queens Ave United Church
Map to Ryerson United Church

Tickets available through Brown Paper Tickets

1-800-838-3006
(phone service available 24/7)
or from choir membes and the
Elektra Office: 604.739.1255

Elektra Moves to Brown Paper Tickets

Elektra is pleased to announce that Brown Paper Tickets will be our new ticket vendor. Brown Paper Tickets is a Seattle-based company that sells tickets to a variety of events in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. We know that you will appreciate their low service charges and excellent service. Tickets to all Elektra concerts (including our Victoria concert) may be purchased online here or by calling their 1-800 number, which offers 24/7 support.

www.brownpapertickets.ca
Live 24/7 Hotline
1-800-838-3006

Connections
Whether by mail, email, Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube, we love hearing from you!

Did you know that your comments are always welcome, and that we have several ways for you to reach us? If you read something that you enjoy on the Elektra blog, feel free to leave a comment. You can find the Elektra blog by clicking on the RSS icon on the Elektra site. (That's the button that looks like this:

) or you may click on this link.

Elektra's Facebook Page is a going concern (511 visits last week!), full of comments, posts, photos, and general newsy bits, perfect for checking out while enjoying your morning coffee. Feel free to join in the conversation.

We're on YouTube as well, and we started BIG, with parts one and two of a trilogy: From the Hearth on YouTube. (If Peter Jackson can do it, so can we.) Hear Diane and Morna reminisce over 22 years of Elektra history! Listen to carefully chosen music clips! Remember that all this started in 1987, and giggle at some of the outfits and hairstyles we wore!

If comments in 140 characters are more your style, follow Elektra on Twitter. We're @ElektraYVR and we'd love to connect.

If you feel moved to write a review of a concert, we'd love to see it! Email it to us and we may post it to our website. Of course, you can also send us a card or a note through the mail. Our address is Elektra Women's Choir, 949 W49th Ave, Vancouver BC V5Z 2T1.

Whichever way you choose to interact with us, we'd love to hear from you!

Elektra couldn't exist without the generous support of people like you; people who believe that choral music is important enough to support. Please consider making a donation to Elektra. Every donation helps and no amount is too small.

Join Elektra on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr - just click on the icon. You may also share this newsletter on your social media networks by clicking on the 'Share' icon at the bottom of this email.

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Elektra Women's Choir
"To inspire and lead in the choral art form through excellence in performance and the creation, exploration and celebration of women's repertoire."

Elektra gratefully acknowledges the support of 2010 Legacies Now, Government of British Columbia, City of Vancouver, Canada Council for the Arts, Martha Lou Henley Charitable Foundation, Vancouver Foundation, and BordenLadnerGervais. Elektra also thanks its many generous individual donors and volunteers - their support makes us sing.