Joy & Wonder: Celebrate the magic of the season with dance and music!

Festive sounds of brass and Lithuanian soprano Lina Dambrauskaite combine with Key Chorale for two Medieval inspired compositions. Experience the world premiere dance of Missa Carolae by English composer James Whitbourn and Ola Gjeilo’s lush and moving Dreamweaver inspired by a Norwegian tale of transformation. New holiday works by Jacob Narverud, Dan Forrest and Karl Jenkins complete this welcome holiday tradition.

Key Chorale and The Sarasota Ballet Studio Company have collaborated the Sunday after Thanksgiving since 2019. During that time having presented thirteen world-premiere dances. This year’s dance premiere will be James Whitbourn’s Medieval inspired Missa Carolae.

GRAMMY-nominated English composer James Whitbourn’s Missa Carolae was commissioned for the 1400th anniversary of Rochester Cathedral, the second oldest cathedral in England. The work is based on an ancient form called a parody mass; texts set to existing melodies. You will recognize tunes like In dulci jubilo, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming, and others woven into this work.

Key Chorale has commissioned Ola Gjeilo twice and recorded an entire CD of his music. His moving Dreamweaver is based on parts of the Norwegian medieval folk poem Draumkvedet, an epic ballad. The protagonist, Olav Åsteson, falls asleep on Christmas Eve and sleeps for 13 days. He wakes up and rides to church to describe his dreams to the congregation about his brave, beautiful, and ultimately redeeming journey through the afterlife.