Pacific Symphony welcomes the Grammy-Award winning vocalist to sing music from her newest album,’Christmas Blessings.’
With her angelic voice and heart-warming spirit, Sandi Patty, one of the most highly acclaimed performers of recent times, delivers an uplifting and joyous Christmas concert, complete with the lush, holiday sounds of Pacific Symphony. Praised for her expressive vocal range and flexibility, Patty is often known simply as “The Voice.” She holds five Grammy awards, five gold records, four Billboard Music Awards, three platinum records and has sold 11 million units. This December, Patty teams up with the Symphony and Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman to celebrate the season and share songs from her newest album, “Christmas Blessings.” This record includes Christmas favorites, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Joy to the World,” “Winter Wonderland” and many more. Rejoice in the festivities with the entire family at this wholesome holiday concert, which includes a delightful sing-along. Also, joining Pacific Symphony to narrate “The Night Before Christmas” is well-known actor Jamie Farr, known for his role as Klinger in the television series M*A*S*H.
“Christmas with Sandi Patty” takes place Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 18-20, at 8 p.m., in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Tickets are $35-$160; for more information or to purchase tickets, call (714) 755-5799 or visit www.PacificSymphony.org.
“With the wonderful spirit and amazing voice of Sandi Patty, our Christmas Pops celebration will, without a doubt, bring the true meaning, as well as the fun and excitement of the most wonderful time of the year,” says Maestro Kaufman. “Andy Williams, who graced our Christmas Pops a couple of years ago, once told me that Sandi Patty had the best female voice he had ever heard—high praise indeed from one of history’s most respected and beloved singers. I am extremely excited for my first opportunity to work with this wonderful person and terrific performer.”
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The orchestra opens the Pops concert with a selection of festive holiday music. The fun begins with “Bellringers’ Holiday,” which includes favorites, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” “The Ukranian Bell Carol,” “Ding Dong Merrily on High” and the well-known classic, “Jingle Bells.” Succeeding, the orchestra pays tribute to the Jewish holiday, with “Festive Sounds of Hanukah” arranged by Bill Holcombe. “Little Saint Nick” and “Sleigh Ride” surround a dramatic reading of the poem, “The Night Before Christmas,” by actor Farr. And, to conclude the first portion, the audience is invited to sing along to “Winter Wonderland,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Deck the Halls” and, of course, “Jingle Bells.”
“The first half of the concert will be fun and filled with the joy of Christmas,” says Kaufman. “And this year, we welcome to our Pops Series one of the most well-known and beloved personalities in television history, Jamie Farr…or as he is known to most of the world, Corporal Max Klinger from the legendary television series, ‘M*A*S*H.’ Jamie will tell the story of ‘The Night Before Christmas,’ and it will undoubtedly be an amazing performance by a fantastic actor.”
After intermission, Sandi Patty takes the stage to perform music from her “Christmas Blessings” album, which also includes the songs “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “O Holy Night,” “Mary, Did You Know?” and more. Boasting a 30-year career in gospel music, Patty is the most-awarded female vocalist in contemporary Christian music history, receiving 40 Dove Awards. She was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2004 and recognized as an Indiana Living Legend in 2007. She has released more than 30 albums, including her latest, “Everlasting,” which features notable hymns and songs of worship in an intimate and acoustic setting. Extending her career outside the genre in recent years, Patty has also performed with symphonies across the country including the New York Pops, Boston Pops, Cincinnati Pops, Dallas Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Houston Symphony and Oklahoma City Philharmonic. She also headlined the title role in sold-out performances of the musical “Hello, Dolly!” with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 2012.
“There are many things that make Christmas—as the song says—‘the most wonderful time of the year.’ Possibly the most inspiring element is the music of Christmas, which does so much to create the fun, beauty and true meaning of the season,” says Kaufman. “On these holiday concerts, our Pops audience will experience the joyous wonder of Christmas as it is brought together in the music performed by the orchestra and our wonderful guest artist.”
This appearance by Sandi Patty is generously sponsored by Susie and Steve Perry. The Symphony’s Pops series receives additional support from the official vehicle, Mercedes-Benz, Avenue of the Arts Wyndham Hotel, PBS SoCal and K-Earth 101.
