Seraphic Fire opened its annual Christmas concert run with a program that critic Lawrence Budmen called “a wonderful way to spend around ninety minutes forgetting about the troubling headlines and the ups and downs of life.” His review praised the performance as an evening of “sheer enchantment and beauty.” Under the direction of Artistic Director Designate James K. Bass, audiences experienced a fresh interpretation of the ensemble’s beloved holiday tradition, inspired by the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” - better known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” - and shaped by a thoughtful blend of familiar carols and new discoveries.
The first performance at All Saints Episcopal Church set the tone for the entire run. The sanctuary glowed with warm candlelight, with dozens of candles arranged along the altar and around the artists to create a striking and immersive effect. A lighted Christmas tree, holiday banners, and a Nutcracker soldier that the staff affectionately named Nandor framed the scene. Against this atmosphere, Bass recited moments of the classic poem between musical selections, guiding audiences through a holiday journey that felt intimate and timeless.
A Musical Journey Through Christmas Favorites
The concert opened with Audrey Snyder’s Christmas Processional, a striking modernist chant with female voices at the front of the sanctuary and male voices at the rear. Bass conducted while ringing pitched bells, establishing the luminous atmosphere that carried through the night.
Familiar carols appeared in beautifully reimagined forms. Seraphic Fire founder Patrick Quigley’s arrangement of Adeste Fideles began with the men singing the original chant before expanding into a full and resonant O Come All Ye Faithful. Jolly Old Saint Nicholas shimmered with playful dynamic shifts. Carol of the Bells, in the Peter Wilhousky arrangement, had rhythmic energy to spare. The choir’s velvety blend was on full display in Quigley’s arrangement of The First Noel. Joy to the World concluded the set with a vigorous and celebratory pulse.
There were inventive surprises as well. Jeff Funk’s choral arrangement of Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy delighted the audience, with the upper voices carrying the familiar celesta line while the lower voices provided rhythmic support.
Moments of Stillness and Reflection
Budmen highlighted several moments of particular beauty. Patrick Kilbride’s resonant tenor brought clarity to Vaughan Williams’ This Is the Truth Sent From Above. The ensemble shaped the lyrical writing of Sally Beamish’s In the Stillness with delicacy. June Collin’s The Quiet Heart offered a soothing blend of timbres. Once as I Remember added a rarely heard gem, filled with gentle repetitions of “La lullay lu.”
One of the evening’s standout works was Owain Park’s setting of O Magnum Mysterium. This version uses modern harmonies to create a quiet and hypnotic atmosphere. Addy Sterrett’s soprano and Charles Wesley Evans’ bass alternated with rich full choir passages that resonated beautifully in the sanctuary.
Joseph Phibbs’ Sleep My Pretty One, Sleep provided a contemporary lullaby. Ēriks Ešenvalds’ Only in Sleep closed with a radiant final line sung by soprano Eliza Masewicz.
Tradition and the Magic of Candlelight
A cherished Seraphic Fire tradition returned with Elizabeth Poston’s Jesus Christ the Apple Tree. Sterrett and Maura Tuffy were featured in a beautifully balanced duet as the ensemble surrounded the candlelit space. The evening ended with Silent Night, offered in near darkness as the choir processed with red candles. Their voices softened into silence, a peaceful gesture that captured the spirit of live Christmas music in South Florida.
Experience Seraphic Fire This December
Seraphic Fire’s Christmas concerts continue across South Florida through December 16 in Coral Gables, Boca Raton, Cutler Bay, and Naples. The ensemble will also appear for a special out of state performance in Grafton, Vermont on December 20.
Limited tickets are available at SeraphicFire.org/tickets or by calling 305.285.9060.
