Neighbor News
The Newberry Consort Presents ‘A Flamenco Christmas’ Featuring Music and Flamenco Dancing Dec. 5-7
The Newberry Consort's 'A Flamenco Christmas' concerts to be held in English and Spanish in Uptown, Evanston and Pilsen.
CHICAGO — This December, The Newberry Consort is pleased to partner with the Hispanic arts company Arte Puro to present A Flamenco Christmas, a new, high-energy Christmas concert featuring flamenco music of Spain and Latin American holiday music, as well as dramatic, live flamenco dancing. A Flamenco Christmas will be presented Dec. 5 in Uptown, Dec. 6 in Evanston, and Dec. 7 at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen.
Starring mezzo-soprano soloist Cecilia Duarte and flamenco dancer Ana María Barceló, this concert promises to be a feast for the eyes and ears.
Co-curated by Arte Puro director/percussionist Jesús Pacheco and Newberry Consort artistic director Liza Malamut, A Flamenco Christmas features musical traditions from Spain, Portugal and Latin America, including music from the “Zambomba” tradition in Jerez, Spain, where neighbors gather around a fire to sing Christmas villancicos to the rhythms of flamenco. These Zambomba villancicos are typically singalong Christmas carols, with a mix of religious and secular lyrics.
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The music, from the 16th to the 18th centuries, will be performed using period styles and played on traditional instruments from the regions.
“We have been performing a Latin American-themed holiday show since 2018, but we have never incorporated flamenco music and dancing into our Christmas concert before,” Malamut said. “We think audiences will love the classical guitar and infectious rhythms of this gorgeous music.”
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The program will be presented in both Spanish and English, with texts and imagery projected on a screen behind the performers by art historian and projection artist Shawn Keener. The colorful art and lively dancing make this program both musically and visually arresting, providing a riveting and exciting show for all ages.
The cast will feature Newberry Consort beloved Chicago-based musicians Matthew Dean (tenor and alto vocalist), Lucía Mier y Teran Romero (soprano, language specialist), Eric Miranda (baritone), Andrés Guzmán (historical trombone), and Jacob Reed (chamber organ). Anna Steinhoff joins the ensemble on viola da gamba, with Dušan Balarín returning to play vihuela and Baroque guitar. Rachel Begley (bajón, recorders) and Kathryn Montoya (shawm, recorders) join Malamut and Guzmán to complete the historical Renaissance wind band.
“We think this concert is a fun alternative to traditional Christmas concerts, and it’s a fun, festive event for the entire family,” Malamut said.
A Flamenco Christmas
The Newberry Consort celebrates the holiday season with the music and dance of Spain, Portugal, and Latin America with the new program, “A Flamenco Christmas.” Co-curated by Newberry Consort artistic director Liza Malamut and Jesús Pacheco, director/percussionist of the Hispanic arts group Arte Puro, this concert features music from the “Zambomba” tradition, where neighbors gather around a fire to sing Christmas villancicos to the rhythms of flamenco. With mezzo-soprano soloist Cecilia Duarte and flamenco dancer Ana María Barceló, this concert promises to be a feast for the eyes and ears.
Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church, 4220 N. Sheridan Ave., Chicago
Saturday, Dec. 6, 2024 at 4 p.m. at Galvin Hall, Northwestern University, 70 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston
Sunday, Dec. 7, 2024 at 4 p.m. at National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St., Chicago
Tickets: $70 for preferred seating, $45 for general admission, $25 for affordable access tickets, $10 for students with a valid student ID, and free for children 16 and under.
To purchase tickets please visit www.newberryconsort.org.
About The Newberry Consort:
The Newberry Consort brings together singers and instrumentalists of the highest caliber to create historically informed performances of music from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Baroque, and beyond. By integrating historical performance and research with contemporary themes and multimedia, we inspire audiences, musicians, and scholars by providing a window into earlier times and diverse cultures. The Consort continues to uplift Chicago’s early music community through mentorships, teaching, and engagement of local artists.
