With the skirling of bagpipes still echoing through the Hopkins Center on the final night of the Christmas Revels last December, Revels North’s then-associate artistic director already could hear Quebecois fiddles serenading the season in 2016.
“By the time the show wrapped, I knew I wanted to produce a French-Canadian theme this year,” Nils Fredland, who is now artistic director of Revels North, wrote this week during an exchange of emails. “The Christmas Revels: A French-Canadian Celebration of the Winter Solstice” opens tonight at 6 in the Hopkins Center’s Spaulding Auditorium.
“I feel a strong personal connection to Quebecois culture and music,” said Fredland, who has been balancing rehearsals with his day job as a music teacher at Strafford’s Newton School. “Through my work as a dance caller, I’ve shared the stage with many French-Canadian tradition-bearers, and my gut just said it was the right time to bring that energy to our Christmas show.”
If he needed any more good vibrations, Fredland found them in the script in which Revels Inc. Artistic Director Paddy Swanson in Cambridge, Mass., builds a musical extravaganza around the Quebecois tall tale of a band of voyageurs resorting to a flying canoe to make it home to their sweethearts for New Year’s Eve.
“I knew we would have fun bringing it to life on stage,” Fredland wrote. “And, really, who doesn’t like a good French-Canadian fiddle tune, especially played by Pascal Gemme?”
That’s Pascal Gemme of the Canadian Music Award-winning Quebecois trio Genticorum, which will set the rhythm for the step-dancing of French-Canadian master Pierre Chartrand and for the chorus of Upper Valley actors and singers who will re-enact the tale tonight, Friday night and twice each on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
“Genticorum is a pleasure to work with,” Fredland observed. “They are amazing musicians, and very supportive of the rehearsal process. … They’ve also kept everyone laughing. We’re all working hard, but in general the feeling in the room is light and exciting. Cast members have put months of work in on dances and songs, and now we’re just enjoying putting it all together on stage.”
That mood is buoying Fredland through the long hours of preparation after his work at school, preparation he knew was coming while he served as music director to Revels North’s outgoing Artistic Director Maureen Burford in staging the 2015 Revels on a Scottish-Highlands theme.
“I’m putting more energy in this year, certainly, and I am also feeling more energized by the process,” Fredland wrote. “I have been reflecting this week how much I appreciate that our production team meetings have been going since March. That’s a lot of time to digest the details of putting on a show of this scale, and now that we’re knocking on the door of opening night, I feel that I can relax and enjoy the process instead of wondering what I’ve forgotten.”
In the meantime, Fredland isn’t worrying about forgetting how to call contra dances, for which he is known around North America.
“My last gig was on Nov. 19, and my next one is on Dec. 31 — no time for more than that,” he wrote. “There is overlap between my work with Revels North and my skills as a dance caller, which has allowed us to launch a six-event community dance series at Tracy Hall in Norwich in 2017. I’ll be calling those dances, and the Revels North all-comers instrumental ensemble, the Band of Fools, will play the tunes.”
The opportunities to balance his passions, while also raising a family in a rural area with many cultural opportunities, made Fredland’s move from southern Vermont an easy call.
“Revels North is all about people coming together, and discovering ways to participate in celebration,” Fredland wrote. “Being in a position to be able to support that experience for people is a true gift, and I cannot imagine a place I’d rather be.”
Revels North opens its “French-Canadian Celebration of the Solstice” tonight at 6 at Dartmouth College’s Spaulding Auditorium in Hanover. Subsequent shows are scheduled for Friday night at 7, and on Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 1 and 5 both days. For tickets ($10.20 to $46) and more information, visit hop.dartmouth.edu or call 603-646-2422.
Five raconteurs spin tales of “Holiday Disasters” at AVA Gallery and Arts Center in Lebanon tonight, in AVA’s monthly session in the spirit of The Moth Radio Hour. After refreshments at 6:30, the session begins at 7 in the South Studio on the second floor, with live music from singer-guitarist David Greenfield. Advance tickets cost $5 for AVA members and $7.50 for others, and tickets at the door are $10. To reserve seats and learn more, visit avagallery.org or call 603-448-3117.
Hanover teen Miriam Viazmenski sings the title role and mezzo-soprano Erma Mellinger of West Lebanon portrays the main character’s mother in Opera North’s performances of Amahl and the Night Visitors at the Lebanon Opera House on Friday night at 7 and Saturday night at 5. For tickets ($10 to $22) and more information, visit operanorth.org or the opera house box office in City Hall, or call 603-448-0400.
The Full Circle chorus sings its annual Christmas concert at the Bradford Congregational United Church of Christ at 7:30 Friday night, and at the Lyme Congregational Church on Saturday night at 7:30. The chorus tackles a repertoire ranging from The Twelve Days of Christmas to the premier performance of Marion Cross School music teacher Travis Ramsey’s composition Binary Stars. Admission is by donation.
The BarnArts Chorale sings Benjamin Britten’s Wolcum Yole and other carols at Barnard’s First Universalist Church on Friday night at 7. While admission is free, donations are welcome. To learn more, visit barnarts.org.
The Boston-based Darlingside quartet plays bluegrass, classical and barbershop music at the Chandler Music Hall in Randolph on Friday night. Singer-songwriter Kris Gruen opens the evening at 7:30. To reserve tickets ($10 to $20) and learn more, visit chandler-arts.org or call 802-728-6464. Tickets at the door cost $22.
TubaChristmas heralds the yuletide with two performances in the Upper Valley this weekend: at 2 on Saturday afternoon at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, and at 2 on Sunday afternoon at the Claremont Savings Bank Community Center. Volunteer singers who register and rehearse the morning of each event are welcome to perform alongside the tuba and euphonium players; there’s a performance fee of $10.
Registration at Colby-Sawyer’s Wheeler Hall starts at 10:30 Saturday morning and rehearsal begins at 11; to learn more, call P. Aarne Vesilind at 603-526-6011. For the Claremont concert on Sunday, registration is at 10 in the morning and rehearsal begins at noon; for more information, call Louie Barbosa at 603-542-4901. To learn more, visit tubachristmas.com.
In a concert benefiting the Standing Rock Sioux’s effort to block an oil pipeline through tribal land in North Dakota, the bands Twisted Knickers and Senayit and singer-songwriters James Graham and John Heartson perform at the West Newbury (Vt.) Hall on Saturday night at 7. Admission is by donation at the door.
The Moving Spirit Dancers perform at Woodstock’s North Universalist Chapel on Sunday morning, during the church’s solstice- and Advent-inspired service of dance, music and poetry. Readings during the service, which starts at 10, include Dylan Thomas’ A Child’s Christmas in Wales. While admission is free, donations are welcome.
Enfield-raised, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Brooks Hubbard and guitarist Val McCallum will share the stage at the Briggs Opera House in White River Junction next Thursday night at 7. To reserve tickets ($20) and learn more, visit yellowhousemedia.com. Tickets at the door cost $25.
Northern Stage continues its production of A Christmas Carol at the Barrette Center for the Arts in White River Junction over the coming week, with performances this afternoon at 2, tonight and Friday night at 7:30, Saturday afternoon at 2, Saturday night at 7:30, Sunday afternoon at 2, Tuesday night at 7:30, Wednesday afternoon at 2, Wednesday night at 7:30, next Thursday afternoon at 2 and next Thursday night at 7:30. Peter Hackett directs the Michael Wilson adaptation of the classic Dickens story. The show runs through Dec. 24. For tickets ($14 to $54) and more information, visit northernstage.org or call 802-296-7000.
High school seniors from Norwich portray Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds and the Three Wise Men tonight, during the 56th annual Norwich Christmas Pageant. The procession of carol-singing begins at 7 at Tracy Hall, with “Mary” riding a donkey led by “Joseph” to the Norwich Inn. At the “stable,” there will be a collection of clothing and non-perishable food for the Upper Valley Haven. The inn will serve cocoa and cookies.
Shaker Bridge Theatre lowers the curtain on its production of Patricia Kane’s Float at Whitney Hall in Enfield this weekend, with 7:30 performances tonight, Friday night and Saturday night, and with a 2:30 show on Sunday afternoon. For tickets ($32) and more information, visit shakerbridgetheatre.org or call 603-448-3750.
Pianist William Ogmundson plays carols and other Christmas favorites at the First Congregational Church in Lebanon on Friday night at 7. Admission at the door is by donation.
Jim and Ruth Strout host the last acoustic music jam of the fall at the Clifford Memorial Building in Woodsville on Sunday from noon to 4. Admission is $3 for spectators. Musicians are welcome to join in the session of country and bluegrass as long as they bring no drums or horns. In the event of bad weather, call 603-747-2839 to learn if the jam is still on.
The Upper Valley Music Center is inviting instrumentalists and vocalists to join an orchestra of the school’s musicians in a recital of Handel’s Messiah on Sunday night at 6:30 at the First Congregational Church of Lebanon. The participation fee is $10 to perform; instrumentalists must register online at uvmusic.org by Friday. While admission is free for spectators, donations are welcome.
Still Hill pulls into Windsor Station tonight at 7 for a session of Americana, roots, folk, bluegrass and old-timey songs. Next up are the Sullivan Davis Hanscom trio on Friday night at 9:30, the rock ensembles Faux in Love and Carton on Saturday night at 9:30 and Orange Julians, a solo project of multi-instrumentalist Julian DeFelice, on Tuesday night from 6 to 9.
Singer-songwriter Harvey Reid appears tonight at 8 at the Flying Goose Brew Pub and Grille in New London. To reserve tickets ($25) and learn more, visit flyinggoose.com or call 603-526-6899.
Singer Sabrina Brown and pianist Bob Merrill perform jazz at the Canoe Club in Hanover starting at 6:30 Friday night. Next to the microphone over the coming week with evening shows from 6:30 to 9:30 are the Sensible Shoes duo of Barbara Blaisdell and Tim Utt on Saturday, jazz singer Rowley Hazard on Sunday and guitarist Bruce Gregori on Tuesday. Also, the roots trio of Lucy Chapin, Lowell Thompson and Tyler Bolles perform an acoustic set on Wednesday night from 7:30 to 10:30.
Singer-songwriter Jim Hollis kicks off the weekend of music at the Salt hill Pub in Hanover on Friday night at 8. The next night at the same time, Supernothing plays its blend of reggae and rock.
Salt hill’s Newport pub welcomes Sirsy, a rock and soul duo, to the microphone on Friday night at 8, and the rock ensemble Tirade on Saturday night at the same hour.
Sullivan Hanscom Davis appears at Lebanon’s Salt hill Pub on Saturday night at 8.
Frydaddy rocks Skunk Hollow Tavern in Hartland Four Corners on Friday starting at 9.
Jamie Ward sings and plays piano at Bentley’s restaurant in Woodstock on Saturday night starting at 7. Pianist Laurence Werner plays Wednesday night at 5.
Bow Thayer plays his weekly set of Americana at the Skinny Pancake on Wednesday night at 7:30.
Singer-songwriter Brian Warren performs in the tavern of the Lyme Inn next Thursday night from 6:30 to 9:30.
Ramunto’s Brick & Brew Pizza in Bridgewater hosts an open mic at 7:30 on Thursday nights. Participants get a free large cheese pizza.
String players of all ages and abilities are welcome at the weekly acoustic jam session at South Royalton’s BALE Commons on Friday night from 6:30 to 10.
Joe Stallsmith leads a weekly hootenanny of Americana, folk and bluegrass at Salt hill Pub in Hanover on Monday nights at 6.
Bradford’s Colatina Exit holds an open mic Tuesday nights at 8.
Jim Yeager hosts an open mic at Hartland’s Skunk Hollow Tavern, at 8:30 on Wednesday night, and next Thursday night at 7 he oversees a session at ArtisTree Community Arts Center in South Pomfret.
David Corriveau can be reached at dcorriveau@vnews.com and at 603-727-3304.