2007.12.28. Pacific Northwest Ballet performs Nutcracker at McCaw Hall. Wonderful stage design, and quite nice costumes and orchestra. An fun evening. First time for me to see Nutcracker on stage, even though it plays here every December. Surprised to see the house being quite full, .

2007.12.24. St. James Cathedral's Vigil of the Mass at Midnight. Arrived at 11pm for the carol service. All seats were taken. Stood for an hour. Left at midnight after the midnight mass started. Beautiful singing (better than yesterday's musical).

2007.12.23. Jesus Christ Superstar at Paramount Theatre. A rock musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber about the last week of Jesus' life. All conventional. Nothing interesting. Single stage. Loud sound. Title role was played by Ted Neeley, whose voice is close to broken.

2007.12.21. Seattle Men's Chorus's "Home For The Holidays" concert at Benaroya Hall. Fabulous. 200 voices, interestingly arranged into 3 parts, especially the Jumble Bell which is Jingle Bell disguised in a dozen ways (lyric and arrangement by Barnes). Funny verses in in Americana Carols and Teddy Bears' Holiday. Small comical ensembles interleaves with the whole chorus. Remember and Light a Candle was sung in such a grace. There was even a "reproduction" of the painting American Gothic. The entire concert was sign language interpreted. One verse of Silent Night was performed with no sound. The encore piece was most energetic, no instrument, but with some dance movements.
Black outfit with hidden decorations, red AIDS ribbon in the suit pin-hole.
One on piano, one drum, one percussion, one guitar, sometimes one clarinet. One guest saw player, who also played a tiny toy-harpsichord. Sign language interpreted.
Overall, beautiful and highly enjoyable.

2007.12.16. Mount Zion Mass Choir at Benaroya Hall. Over 60 voices. A couple of outstanding soloist. One on drum, one a guitar, one on other percussion, two on keyboards. After intermission, the UW Gospel Choir joined (close to 100 kids with less than 10 black). All under the direction of Phyllis Byrdwell and her keyboard. Male voices in the middle. No complicated arrangement.
I originally thought that this was a children's choir from Israel. Well, still it was fun. The audience was enthusiastic.