SPRINGFIELD — Latin flair will be at the forefront of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra’s annual Holiday Pops concert on Saturday with the Springfield Symphony Chorus, led by Nikki Stoia, cantor Elise Barber, and Broadway star and Mexican immigrant Florencia Cuenca.
The family-friendly matinée concert will begin at 4 p.m. at Springfield Symphony Hall and will be led by returning guest conductor William Waldrop.
Cuenca will take center stage to perform favorites such as “Feliz Navidad” and “Las Cantares de Navidad.” She recently made history playing Estela Garcia in the musical adaptation of “Real Women Have Curves,” becoming the first Mexican immigrant to originate a co-leading role on Broadway.
Waldrop said that he looks forward to Christmas and its special music every year.
“I love Christmas. I might start listening to Christmas music around the end of October. I’m always preparing for a holiday concert, so it’s one of my favorite times of the year,” he said.
John Rutter, he added, is one of his favorite composers of Christmas music, and one of his pieces — “Three Kings of Orient” — will be in this year’s Holiday Pops program.
“I also love classic popular Christmas music like ‘White Christmas’ and ‘The Christmas Song,’” Waldrop added.
Heather Caisse-Roberts, president and CEO of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, added that Holiday Pops is “one of our most cherished traditions.”
“You will still hear ‘Sleigh Ride’ and ‘Silent Night,’ and the sing-along that makes Symphony Hall feel like family. But traditions only stay alive when they grow with us. Our community is rich, diverse, and full of stories, and our holiday concert, just like this entire season, is the perfect place to celebrate,” Caisse-Roberts said.
“Because at its core, this isn’t just about programming, it’s about building an orchestra that reflects the community it serves. When we honor our past and invite new voices into the story, the music becomes bigger than any one tradition. It becomes a place where everyone belongs. That’s the future we’re shaping at the SSO. We hope the community will join us,” she added.
Waldrop also spoke of the importance of conducting this year’s Holiday Pops concert with a Latin twist.
“We really wanted to highlight the vibrant Latin community of Springfield by welcoming an incredible guest artist, Florencia Cuenca, who will sing some original songs as well as traditional carols sung in Spanish. I know the audience is going to love her,” he said, adding that the Springfield Symphony Chorus will also perform Spanish carols from Catalonia, Venezuela and Puerto Rico. The classic “Feliz Navidad,” arranged by Victor Vanacore, will also be featured in the concert.
“I think people will really enjoy the varied and diverse musical choice on the program. We will be highlighting Christmas [and] Hanukkah as well as the rich culture and music of Springfield’s Latin community. It’s truly a concert for everyone,” Waldrop added.
Tickets for the concert are on sale, starting at $25, on the SSO website, SpringfieldSymphony.org, or by calling the Box Office at 413-733-2291.
Holiday Pops is sponsored by Balise Lexus.
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