Twelfth Night Festival

Trinity Church Wall Street fills the seasonal gap from Christmas to just after the New Year with a festival featuring some of New York's top early-music acts, including its own superb house choir. Events alternate between Trinity Church and the nearby St. Paul's Chapel. Some shows are free (and even those that aren't often have $25 options). The Trinity Baroque Orchestra kicks things off at St. Paul's on the evening of Dec 26 with a free presentation of Bach's complete Orchestral Suites. Gotham Early Music Scene's celebrated production of The Play of Daniel comes on Dec 27 and 28 (twice per day). The Choir of Trinity Wall Street gives a free concert at St. Paul's on the evening of Dec 28. Organist Avi Stein leads a free afternoon set of concertos for organ and strings at St. Paul on Dec 29, while the Bishop's Band plays a ticketed set at Trinity Wall Street (at 6pm). Grand Harmonie plays works by Rossini, Mozart and Haydn at a St. Paul's afternoon free concert on Dec 30. In the evening, St. Paul's hosts New York Baroque Inc. for a ticketed set of pieces by Telemann, Vivaldi and others. Holy Trinity Bach Vespers gives a free performance at St. Paul's on the afternoon of Dec 31. That evening, Clarion Music Society presents a ticketed, all-night Rachmaninoff vigil (the program repeats on Jan 1). A fully staged production of Handel's dramatic oratorio Saul receives a ticketed Trinity Church performance on Jan 2 (and repeats on the afternoon of Jan 4). Countertenor Ryland Angel sings Renaissance works (and some newer pieces) at a free St. Paul's set on the afternoon of Jan 3, while Cappella Romana presents a ticketed performance of Greek Orthodox chant at Trinity Church in the evening. Trinity Youth Chorus returns to the mix for a free show by candlelight on Jan 4, at St. Paul's. On the afternoon of Jan 5, a small period-instrument group performs a free St. Paul's set of courtly pieces, composed between the 15th and 17th centuries. That evening at Trinity Church, the Grammy-winning new-music vocal octet Roomful of Teeth brings contemporary sounds to the festival. Closing festivities on Jan 6 is the Choir of Trinity Wall Street's Epiphany Service. See trinitywallstreet.org for full performer and repertoire details.