The holidays bring a dazzling display of classical music offerings across St. Louis

Saint Louis Philharmonic Orchestra

When 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 • Where Skip Viragh Center for the Arts, 425 South Lindbergh Boulevard • How much $20 • More information 314-421-3600; stlphilharmonic.org

The St. Louis Philharmonic, under the direction of Darwin Aquino, presents its Holiday Pops Concert, a festive evening of orchestral favorites for the whole family.

Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra

Where Powell Hall, 718 North Grand Boulevard (unless otherwise specified) • How much Prices vary • More information 314-534-1700; slso.org

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra‘s many holiday offerings begin with Handel’s “Messiah” (7:30 p.m. Dec. 2, 8 p.m. Dec. 3, 3 p.m. Dec. 4; $15 to $93). The orchestra is joined by the St. Louis Symphony Chorus and soloists Amanda Forsythe (soprano), Key’mon Murrah (countertenor), John Matthew Myers (tenor), and Jonathon Adams (baritone). Laurence Cummings directs.

“A Gospel Christmas” (7:30 p.m. Dec. 15; $39-$70) features the In Unison Chorus, led by Kevin McBeth, and guest artist Sheléa.

There will be five Mercy Holiday Celebration performances at Powell (2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on December 16 and 17, 2 p.m. on December 18; $33 to $72). The perennial favorite includes holiday classics performed by the orchestra with conductor, trumpeter and vocalist Byron Stripling. The program will also be presented twice (7:30 p.m. on December 20 and 21; $25 to $55) at the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts at Lindenwood University.

Two holiday-themed films will take place at Powell while the SLSO performs the scores: “Home Alone” (7 p.m., Dec. 22-23; $41-$70); and “Elf” (7 p.m. Dec. 29-30; $40-$70).

Finally, SLSO assistant conductor Stephanie Childress and the orchestra close out 2022 and make way for 2023 with a New Year’s Eve celebration (2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on December 31; $45 to $110).

When 7:30 p.m. December 3 • Where Dunham Hall, 1 Hairpin Drive, Edwardsville • How much $50, $15 for students • More information operaedwardsville.org

Opera Edwardsville’s Fifth Anniversary Celebration and Holiday Concert provides good cheer in the form of operatic works that feature parties, toasts and drinking songs. Excerpts from “Carmen” by Bizet, “Lucrèce Borgia” by Donizetti and “Macbeth” by Verdi, among others, make up the first part of the evening and will be followed by performances of great festive and holiday classics.

When 7:00 p.m. Dec. 6 • Where Café St. Louis, Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Boulevard, Forest Park • How much $75 to $125 • More information 314-361-2881; unionavenueopera.org

Union Avenue Opera presents its “Jingle & Mingle” holiday celebration, featuring dinner, drinks, singing and performances by UAO 2022 artists Debby Lennon and Karen Kanakis.

When 8 p.m. Dec 7 • Where Basilica-Cathedral of St. Louis, 4341 Lindell Boulevard • How much $19 to $42 • More information 314-533-7662; cathedralconcerts.org

“Christmas at the Cathedral” features the choirs and orchestra of the Archdiocese of St. Louis performing the Christmas portion of Handel’s “Messiah” as well as other Christmas classics old and new.

Bach Society of St. Louis

When 7:30 p.m. December 9 • Where Powell Hall, 718 North Grand Boulevard • How much $30 to $85 • More information 314-534-1700; bachsociety.org

The Bach Society Chorus and Orchestra Christmas Candlelight Concert has been a St. Louis favorite since 1951. Among the works to be performed are traditional carols such as “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and “Joy to the World”, as well as “Exsultate” by Mozart. , jubilate” and “O Holy Night” sung by the famous soprano Sherezade Panthaki. Bach Society Music Director and Conductor A. Dennis Sparger will be on the podium.

When 8 p.m. Dec. 9, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Dec. 10, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 11 • Where Touhill Center for the Performing Arts, 1 Touhill Circle • How much $22.50 to $45 • More information 314-516-4949; aoh.org

The acclaimed male a cappella choir, over 130 strong, presents its popular ‘Sounds of the Season’ program at Touhill. A four-time Barbershop Harmony Society International Chorus Champion and winner of numerous other competitions, the Ambassadors are known not only for their harmonies, but also for their innovative and intelligent choreography. This year’s concerts – five of them over three days – feature guest appearances from Vocal Spectrum, GQ and the first performance of Visions of Harmony.

Children’s choirs of Saint-Louis

When 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. 10 Dec. • Where J. Scheidegger Center, 2300 West Clay Street, St. Charles • How much $15 to $38 • More information 314-993-9626; slccsing.org

About 450 singers, ages 6 to 18, from more than 200 schools in Missouri and Illinois, come together for a pair of concerts titled “Sure on the Shining Night.” The afternoon concert features Music Makers, the 1B Children’s Choir, the Young Men’s Choir and the Concert Choir, while the evening concert features the 2A/2B Choir, the Children’s Choir. children 1A, choristers 3A/3B, the choir of young men and the concert choir.

American Choir and Chamber Orchestra

When 7:30 p.m. December 11 • Where Salem United Methodist Church, 1200 South Lindbergh Boulevard • How much Free • More information 314-638-0793; acchorale.com

The American Chamber Chorale and Orchestra presents the free ‘Music for the King of Kings’ candlelight concert at the sanctuary of the United Methodist Church in Salem. It features age-old chants as well as new music and offers audiences the opportunity to join in the finale, “Silent Night.”

Choral masterpieces and children’s choirs

When 7:30 p.m. December 11 • Where St. Peter’s Cathedral, 200 West Harrison Street, Belleville • How much $10 to $20 • More information singmasterworks.org

Masterworks Chorale & Children’s Choruses, under the direction of Stephen Mager, present “Christmas at the Cathedral” with guest performers from the Gateway Brass Quintet.

Saint-Louis Opera Theater

When 6 p.m. Dec. 11 • Where Club Saint-Louis, 7701 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton • How much $300 • More information 314-963-4223; opera-stl.org

The Opera Theater of St. Louis hosts its annual holiday celebration, a benefit to its nationally recognized young artist programs. The event includes drinks, dinner, singalongs and a performance by soprano Murrella Parton, who will sing Fiordiligi in the 2023 OTSL production of Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte.”

When 7:12-14 Dec • Where Dominic’s on the Hill, 5101 Wilson Avenue • How much $85 • More information 314-865-0038; winteroperastl.org

Winter Opera St. Louis’ “Holiday on the Hill” features a four-course dinner at Dominic’s on the Hill, as well as a holiday concert sung by Winter Opera performers.

When 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 • Where Centene Center for the Arts, 3547 Olive Street • How much $20 • More information 314-287-5669; gmcstl.org

The Gateway Men’s Chorus opens its 36th season with the “GMC Is Comin’ to Town” concert, featuring uplifting seasonal music from the 20th and 21st centuries.

When 3 p.m. Dec. 18 • Where Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union Boulevard • How much $40 • More information 636-458-4343; chamberchorus.org

St. Louis Chamber Chorus presents the “Advent to Christmas” program, featuring a performance of “The Christmas Story” by Hugo Distler, as well as songs by Charles Collins, Sasha Johnson Manning and Ivan Moody.