This season demands music. It demands classical masterpieces and corny carols, klezmer and rock ‘n’ roll. Whatever your vibe — traditional, kitsch, anti-holidays — there’s a concert for you on the calendar.
Want your “Messiah” big and grand, the Handel and Haydn Society’s 170th reading of Handel’s masterpiece goes down at Symphony Hall Nov. 24-26. (Yes, that’s right, 170 years!) For something a bit more intimate, try Boston Baroque’s take on the piece Dec. 2 at Calderwood Studio or Dec. 3 at Jordan Hall. Handelandhaydn.org & Baroque.boston
A hundred tuba players? Not enough. How about more than a hundred tuba players? If you’re looking for the most tubas in one place this holiday season, come to The Steps on Franklin and Washington Street for loads of carols and classics. Downtownboston.org
“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” is the greatest holiday pop song of all time. Kudos to Mariah further down, but here it’s about loving Love, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” and the original Christmas Queen. darleneloveworld.com
Somewhere between folk and jazz, cozy and freewheeling, klezmer finds its sonic space. It’s perfect December music, and it’s done by one of Boston’s most talented and unique bands. Ewklezmer.com
Conductor Keith Lockhart or Santa? Well, both bring gifts and cheers this time of year, but Santa just doesn’t have Lockhart’s musical chops. The maestro and the Boston Pops celebrate 50 years of the Pops during this holiday season with old favorites and soon-to-be old favorites. bso.org/pops/
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” is the greatest holiday pop song of the past 40 years. With luck the new Queen of Christmas will sing it 15 times in a row at her Boston Merry Christmas One and All! tour date. Barring that, we will allow her to do it a dozen times and also sing “Fantasy,” “Emotions,” and “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” tdgarden.com
Not a Christmas show, not one bit, but the band has the word “Hallelujah” right there in its name. Oh, and the band is the best indie rock act our fair city has produced in 20 years. Also, the song “Hassle Magnet” sounds like something Scrooge would write after being invited by his nephew to dinner. sinclaircambridge.com
Celebrate the wonderful sounds of this time of year with the Broadway Sinfonietta. Singer Stella Cole fronts Sinfonietta, an all-women and majority women-of-color orchestra known for its stunning skill and sonic diversity. Emersoncolonialtheatre.com
Boston’s best Dead tribute project rings in Christmas with the spirit of Jerry Garcia (the rock star who looked most like Santa!). Set list suggestions: “Cold Rain and Snow,” “Candyman,” “Stagger Lee,” and “Run, Rudolph, Run.” crystalballroomboston.com
