December 16, 1995 “Noel through the Ages”

Philippa Kiraly, Seattle Weekly, December, 1995

Seattle Weekly Music Pick

In a distinctly different Christmas concert, the 14 professional singers of Opus 7 under Loren Pontén perform a mostly 20th-century program of unaccompanied music by Hugo Distler, mystical composer John Tavener, and Northwest composer Robert Scandrett, among others. Also featured will be the world premiere of Christmas Hath a Darkness, written by another Northwest composer, John Muehleisen. This is a contemplative piece, and eight-part unaccompanied work set to a haunting text by poet Christina Rossetti.