Lyrica is ringing in the festive season with a collaborative choral effort that presents excerpts of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.

Teaming up with Tapestry Chamber Choir of Newmarket for a pair of concerts entitled Baroque Gems seemed like an excellent way to approach a demanding and inspiring program.

Lyrica director Steve Winfield had researched other choirs with the possibility of a partnership that would enhance the vocal and auditory experience for singers and audience alike.

Winfield expects it will be a very rich sound and looks forward to performing the first three parts of the oratorio, which itself is not often presented.

“We wouldn’t want to do it alone,” he said, adding that it is a very challenging piece, which is done well with a larger ensemble of voices.

The choirs will also feature additional Baroque pieces that highlight the era independently. The concert will then conclude with choruses from Handel’s Messiah, including Hallelujah.

Andrew Slonefsky, founding director of Tapestry, also felt the dual choirs would make beautiful music together, and the special endeavour would help to celebrate his choir’s 20th anniversary.

To accommodate the additional singers and orchestra, Lyrica will hold its concert at Central United Church, rather than Burton United where they have performed for a number of consecutive years.

Parts I, II, and III of the Bach Christmas Oratorio will be covered for Lyrica’s concert. One of the reasons the composition is rarely done in its entirety is that the full six cantatas present for a very long program. The choirs will sing the three cantatas in German.

Lyrica received special training from diction coaches and three choir members who also speak German further enhanced the attention paid to the language. Winfield especially enjoys the joyous opening of the first cantata.

“It’s very, very joyous. It’s supposed to be Christmas morning,” he said.

Joining the choirs will be a seven-piece orchestra of violins, viola, cello, organ, trumpet and tympani. The orchestra will be under the leadership of David McFadden, who is concertmaster for the Huronia Symphony.

On Dec. 2, Lyrica performed the concert in Newmarket under the directorship of Slonefsky. Dec. 8, Winfield will conduct the two choirs in Barrie.

“I expect the audience will feel very uplifted and will get the meaning of Christmas,” Winfield said.

For tickets to the concert Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m., at Central United Church, call 722-0271 or visit www.lyricachoir.org for more information.