Dec. 14, 2024: The Sound of December
Boise Gay Men’s Chorus jazz it up in the second half of their 2024 holiday concert, “The Sound of December: Our Stories . . . Our Songs.” The program included selections from the traditional Christmas repertoire along with some fun twists on the classics. Here they are singing Irving Berlin’s “Sisters” from White Christmas.
Boise Gay Men’s Chorus brought the season’s familiar songs to life in their concert, The Sound of December: Our Stories . . . Our Songs, before a passionate capacity crowd at Boise’s First Presbyterian Church. Classics like “This Little Babe,” “Sure on This Shining Night,” and “Auld Lang Syne” made appearances. There were plenty of surprises too.
Like the doo-wop version of “The Holly and the Ivy”; a rousing gospel-style arrangement of “O, Holy Night,” featuring soloist Josh MacMillan; and the RainBeaus’ witty rendition of “Rudolph Med Roda Mulen,” you know, that red-nosed reindeer, sung in a minor key, in Swedish, and topped off with a mesmerizing trio of hand percussionists. The Rainbeaus are BGMC’s small a cappella group that spreads our message of inclusion in intimate performances around the Treasure Valley.
Artistic Director David Burton explained at the show’s opening that he had asked the singers to select some of their seasonal favorites to create the program.
Artistic Director David Burton explained at the top of the show that he had polled the group and asked for some of their seasonal favorites, Christmas-themed or not, to fill out the program. In addition to 33 singers, the wide-ranging program brought to the stage a string quartet, a three-piece band, BWC singer and fearless fiddler Laurel Talley, and our own stellar collaborative pianist, Becca Taylor.
BGMC set a formal tone in Act I, singing their more traditional pieces. Then they doffed their tuxedo jackets for a lighthearted and upbeat second act, which opened with Irving Berlin’s “Sisters” from the 1954 film “White Christmas.” The crowd-pleasing moment came when they revealed and snapped their oversized hand fans and sprinkled in some tap dance–inspired choreography. Another dance highlight was the tender waltz performed by Rayne Stone and Devon Chenoweth during “Once upon a December” from the musical Anastasia.
The guys let me invade their dressing room during intermission for some snaps of their costume change and preparations for Act II. Artistic Director David Burton is at the far right.
Ending with “Grown-Up Christmas List,” the group offered a hopeful message for a world in need: “Wars would never start/Time would heal all hearts/Everyone would have a friend/Love would never end.” Predictably, the crowd responded with a standing ovation.
No Boise Choruses concert would be complete without raffle prizes, including our famous wall of wine and theater tickets, which were announced during intermission. Board members Geoffrey Parks and Doug Rinard explained how these fundraising activities support up to 50 percent of our organization’s expenses, including production costs, music purchases, artistic salaries and more. Thank you for your support!
—Patricia Meagher