It’s looking a lot like a choral Christmas. Minnesota’s choirs (and a Grammy-winning group from Texas) are poised to make it a harmonious holiday in the Twin Cities, capped by a visit from Buddy the elf. Here are eight particularly promising performances this month.
The Singers
Ten years after the passing of St. Paul-based composer Stephen Paulus, this sweet-voiced chamber choir will remind you what marvelous music he left us. (3 p.m. Dec. 8, Westwood Lutheran Church, 9001 Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 4801 France Av. S., Mpls.; 2 p.m. Dec. 15, Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, 1938 Stanford Av., St. Paul; $36.50; singersmca.org.)
Conspirare
If you can only catch one Christmas concert this year, consider this rare visit from a Grammy-winning Austin, Texas-based choir led by a Minnesotan (naturally), Craig Hella Johnson. Conspirare’s Christmas concerts are renowned, with this year’s reflecting upon remembrance and light amid the year’s longest nights. (7 p.m. Dec. 11, Central Lutheran Church, 333 S. 12th St., Mpls.; 7 p.m. Dec. 12, St. Michael-Albertville High School, 5800 Jamison Av. NE., St. Michael; $20-$35; stmachoirs.org.)
Cantus
Inspired by England’s “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” tradition, the low-voiced octet will offer texts and music from several centuries, stretching from the 12th-century’s Hildegard von Bingen to the premiere of a new carol by Cantus member Alexander Nishibun. An online version will be available for streaming through Jan. 2. (Dec. 12-22 at nine venues in Mpls., Rochester, Plymouth, St. Paul, Edina and Stillwater; $5-$65; 612-435-0055 or cantussings.org.)
National Lutheran Choir