New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
In concert at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 9, 2018, the Spirit of St. Anthony Choir is now under the direction of Jonathon Babbitt.
The performance takes place at St. Anthony of Padua Church in New Bedford and is a composition by Camille Saint Saens. The Spirit of Saint Anthony choir was formed in 2004 with local singers who join together each year in celebration and song at Christmas. The proceeds from the Christmas concert will be dedicated to the pipe organ renovation fund.
Free parking and a shuttle is available from St. Killian’s parking lot on the corner of Earle St. and Ashley Blvd. and is sponsored by Tremblay Bus.
Steven Young will open up the concert playing the church’s great pipe organ, a historic instrument that is 106 years old, and the focus of the fundraising performance. This beautiful French Romantic style organ was designed by Casavant Frères in St. Hyacinth Quebec, and was installed in 1912 as the finishing touch for the completion of St. Anthony’s church. The church was built by French Canadian immigrants who were drawn to New Bedford to work in the many mills during the industrial boom. Their devotion is evident in the exquisite beauty of the interior of the church that depicts the glory of the heavens with angels too numerous to count.
Camille Saint Saëns was a French composer, organist, conductor and pianist of the Romantic era. One of his best-known works is The Carnival of the Animals (1886) that was performed by Timothy Smith for the Convention of the Old Colony Organist Southeastern Massachusetts Chapter of the American Guild of Organists held in July 2005. This is the event that launched the interest in restoring St. Anthony’s pipe organ, as it was voted best in show in a survey of convention attendees.
The suggested donation for general seating is $10 and will be accepted during the performance. Donations to the pipe organ renovation fund or to purchase reserve seat tickets for $20 or $15 in advance, can be made using PayPal on the choir website www.musicatsaintanthonys.org, or by calling Gisele at 508-264-8010, or Thom at 508-717-2824.
With a grateful heart,
Gisele Pappas
www.musicatsaintanthonys.org/
SPIRIT OF ST. ANTHONY CHOIR
