A Sing Thing.

Byline: FRED CRAFTS The Register-Guard

WHEN EUGENE Concert Choir director Diane Retallack throws a holiday party, she makes a day of it. Her `Holiday Concert and Festivities' next Sunday will fill the afternoon with music, food and other merriment.

The concert officially begins at 2:30 p.m. in the Hult Center's Silva Concert Hall, but Retallack has scheduled an elaborate, free preshow event that begins at 1 p.m. in the center's lobby.

"We want people to just walk in the (Hult Center's) door and immediately have an enchanting time," Retallack said.

One of the first things visitors will notice will be a brass quintet playing Renaissance motets and carols. When the band's not playing, the 24-voice Eugene Vocal Arts Ensemble, in Renaissance garb, will be singing carols and leading a seasonal sing-along.

Also on hand will be free wassail and cookies, plus a holiday bazaar of centerpieces, wreaths, candles and the like, all being sold to raise funds for the choir.

At the same time, an assortment of free craft materials will be available for the public to use in making ornaments for the Hult Center's holiday tree.

Retallack intends for the preshow festivities to flow seamlessly into the concert itself, which will begin with the Vocal Arts Ensemble singing Renaissance motets, madrigals and carols.

Highlighting the ensemble's segment will be the Magnificat from Claudio Monteverdi's 1610 Vespers, which Retallack described as having "a very particular sound that is fascinating to an audience, with effects - sounds - from the balcony."

The program's second half will be devoted to Georg Frideric Handel's Utrecht te Deum and Jubilate, a major work in which Retallack sees "foreshadowings of Handel's `Messiah.'

`You hear something and you think, `Well, that was a `Messiah' moment. Later, he expanded it or did it differently or put it some way in the `Messiah.' '

Because of its similarities with "Messiah," Retallack predicted the piece will be well received.

"Anyone who has heard `Messiah' would love this piece as well," she said. "It's delightful music. It's much shorter (45 minutes). Lots of arias and choruses and short movements, with contrasting and interesting sounds."

Composed in 1712, the work was commissioned as a hymn of praise to be performed at the signing of a peace treaty in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

"That's a nice connection in the world climate now," Retallack said. "We're all hoping for world peace."

Besides the 100-voice Eugene Concert Choir, the work will feature four soloists: soprano Judith Pannill, tenor Mark Beudert, baritone Zheng Zhou and countertenor Don Ebel. Accompaniment will be by the Oregon Mozart Players.

To conclude the concert, audience members will be invited on stage to join the choir and orchestra in the `Hallelujah Chorus' from Handel's `Messiah.'

HOLIDAY CONCERT AND FESTIVITIES

WHAT: Renaissance music by the Eugene Vocal Arts Ensemble and seasonal songs by the Eugene Concert Choir; conducted by Diane Retallack

WHEN: 2:30 p.m. Dec. 16

WHERE: Silva Concert Hall, Hult Center, Seventh and Willamette streets

HOW MUCH: $12 to $24 through the Hult Center box office, 682-5000

CAPTION(S):

Among the members of the Eugene Vocal Arts Ensemble who will be singing at the holiday concert are (from left) Harriett Smith, Stephen Vorhes, Vicki Wilson and Mark Harden.