Amadeus Chamber Symphony bringing holiday concert to St. Cloud

Conductor Axel Theimer may have retired from his work at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University, but after more than half a century of teaching, he’s still working with students. He leads the Amadeus Chamber Symphony, and the group is coming back together to perform its holiday concert at Atonement Lutheran Church.

“People have said that having a chance to listen to the music or sing the carols together, put them in the right mood of the season,” said Artistic Director Axel Theimer. “With all the commercialization that’s going on, it’s really a time away from that and coming together for some reflection and joy and enjoying a different kind of community time.”

The ensemble is usually part of the traditional Celebrating the Season concert at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University. But due to COVID-19 protocols, the group is, for the first time, breaking out on its own.

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Theimer, though officially retired, offered to lead the group for this school year to avoid further disruptions of the ensembles’ work.

The ensemble performed last in October, giving a shorter program with everyone socially-distanced. The group also met together a few times just to visit outdoors and have comradery even though they were unable to perform with COVID-19 restrictions.

Theimer said the bond within the musical group is strong and though students have come and gone during restrictions, all of the group’s members have returned to campus and the ensemble. And now, they’re ready to play.

The program centers around Baroque composer Arcangelo Corelli’s classic “Concerto Grosso (Opus 6/8),” better known as his “Christmas Concerto,” and “Overture” and “Pastoral Symphony (PIFA) “from George F. Handel’s oratorio “Messiah”.

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The program also includes winter favorites such as Leopold Mozart’s “Divertimento in F major,” otherwise known as “The Musical Sleigh-Ride (Musikalische Schlittenfahrt)”.

As is tradition, there will be a time for Christmas carol sing-alongs with favorites “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Joy to the World,” among others.

The program will conclude with the ensemble playing Joseph Bologne’s “Symphony Opus 11/1”. Bologne was considered Mozart’s contemporary and is the first known classical composer of African ancestry, Theimer said.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10 at Atonement Lutheran Church, 1144-29th Ave. N., St. Cloud. The program is free and open to the public, donations are welcome and guests can pay as they wish.

Masks are not required but considering the length of the concert and the inclusion of singing, they are strongly recommended. Following the concert, audience members are invited to visit with the ensemble members while enjoying Christmas cookies.

This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Amadeus Chamber Symphony's free holiday concert coming to St. Cloud