Come home to tradition this Christmas at Markham Theatre

After a successful start to its Diamond season, Markham Theatre heads toward the holidays with multiple opportunities to celebrate with family. Acting general manager Scott Hill and his staff take great care to consider tradition and audience expectations in their programming each year; 2024 is no different.

“Christmas at the theatre this year is really all about tradition and comfort,” says Hill.”These are the things that make you feel at home.”

The holiday season is already in full swing on December 12 at 8 p.m., when The Tallis Scholars: 50th Anniversary Tour performs. The Tallis Scholars have done more than any other group to establish sacred vocal music of the Renaissance as one of the great repertoires of Western classical music. Since 1973, they have performed all over the world, from the Royal Albert Hall to the Sistine Chapel itself. There is probably no more traditional way to celebrate Christmas than to listen to the music that has celebrated it for a thousand years authentically recreated.

“This is something special for us and for our audience,” says Hill.”It’s going to be an incredible night.”

Up next is certainly the most enigmatic and fascinating collaboration of the entire season.
One of them is a powerful tenor honouring the traditions of Celtic music and the other is the modern voice of Mediterranean music. Both of them fan favourites in Markham, Pavlo & John McDermott: A Family Christmas hits the stage for two shows on December 14 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

“These are two of Markham’s favourite performers,” says Hill. “I’m as excited as our audience to see these two up there together.”

The evening promises an evening of classic and unexpected holiday delights marked by the fusion of McDermott’s exquisite tenor and Pavlo’s masterful guitar artistry.

“It’s pretty much a no-brainer,” adds Hill, “these are two performers at the top of their respective genres.”

A few days later, the beloved MacMaster-Leahy family promises to bring light and happiness to families and fans in Markham with Natalie Macmaster & Donnell Leahy: A Celtic Family Christmas on December 18 at 8 p.m. Both superstars in the Celtic music world, MacMaster and Leahy, have managed to raise a family brimming with talent and passion. This show features new versions of all the classic holiday fare, complete with the atmosphere of a Celtic family Christmas party.

“These families are part of our holiday tradition here,” says Hill, “We’ve had a McMaster or a Leahy at the theatre for Christmas for years and years at this point.”

The Nutcracker is a holiday tradition like no other. Tchaikovsky’s music effortlessly combines wonder, joy, and innocence as its classic story reaches across generations. Ballet Jörgen’s The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition returns for four shows on December 30 and 31. This telling of the classic draws modern visual inspiration from the renowned McMichael Canadian Art Collection but keeps both the music and the story in place, despite other choreographers changing the story liberally. The result is that choreographer Bengt Jörgen’s production features a uniquely Canadian take on an international classic.

“Every year we get excited because we see so many new faces, young and old, for this one,” says Hill, “But it’s also wonderful to see the entire families that come to see it every year. Talk about a tradition.”

Beyond the theatre’s Diamond season, independent producers are bringing a little magic to the theatre this holiday season as well.

Kindred Spirits Orchestra is performing Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite as the core of its December 7 concert, Impressions of the Sea. The show will also feature Vanessa Yu, Grand Prize Winner of the 2023 International Music Festival and Competition, performing Camille Saint-Saëns’ Concerto for Piano and Orchestra.

The afternoon of December 15 features A Swingin’ Christmas with Toronto All-Star Big Band, a community band that has been performing at the theatre for years. The show promises seasonal favourites as well as big band classics.

“Now the Toronto All-Stars have been with us for years now,” says Hill, “They’ve become a huge part of our community and it’s always a great time.”

Tradition and holiday spirit are alive and well again this year at Markham Theatre.

Visit flatomarkhamtheatre.ca for more information.

 

Photo: Pavlo and John McDermott team up this Christmas for a show at Markham Theatre.