The Vancouver Men’s Chorus (VMC) is Canada’s first gay chorus. Founded in 1981, it now has 130+ members. The company put on several shows a year, both at home in Vancouver and across Canada. It is therefore with some embarrassment that we at the Vancouver Arts Review confess that this summer’s show was the first we have covered. Read the review and interview with the Chorus here. We had an absolute hoot at the summer show so we’re eagerly anticipating the VMC’s Christmas concert. The wait is now over: The VMC’s annual “Making Spirits Bright” Christmas concert is running this week (Dec 8 – 15) in the cosy St. Paul’s Anglican Church in the West End.
We attended the show on Saturday night with high hopes and were not disappointed. Soaring choral music was delivered with sparkling charisma and was spiced up with the VMC’s signature dance breaks and dazzling costume changes. (Particular kudos to the performers who delivered dance numbers with such flare on stage of truly diminutive proportions).
This year’s loose theme to add to the “Making Spirits Bright” repertoire was of a “Holiday Vacation”. It was a lovely excuse for the company to take us on a little musical whizz around the world. From Hawaii to Australia, Ireland, and even a brief foray into the African Serengeti. The program was wonderfully eclectic, but never fear, festive favourites were of course also included. There were plenty of crowd pleasers and sing along opportunities with “Here Comes Santa Claus”, “Let it Snow,” “Twelves Days of Christmas” (with a marvellous twist), and “A Spaceman Came Travelling”. Complimenting these rabble-rousing classics were some lesser-known, tender pieces. I was particularly dewy-eyed for the beautiful “Wintersong” (original composition by Sarah Mclachlan) and “Sanctuary” (a Canadian Premiere by choral music virtuoso Ola Gjeilo).
Above all though, the true magic of the evening was the atmosphere created in that snug little church. For two hours the VMC created a little haven of warmth, inclusion and friendship. This is a concert to truly make your spirits bright.
– MG