Holiday symphony concerts in Atlanta

Anyone who’s traveling to Atlanta during December can experience one of the world’s leading symphonic orchestras at its festive best in a busy schedule of evening and matinee holiday concerts. Rather than repeating the same program for all December concerts, the renowned Atlanta Symphony Orchestra mixes it up to appeal to all ages at Symphony Hall at the Robert W. Woodruff Hall Arts Center.
The series opens Dec. 4 and 6 with the moving “Handel’s Messiah,” with Norman Mackenzie conducting the orchestra and Chamber Chorus.
For Dec. 5 and 6, the orchestra and the Atlanta Gospel Choir join forces for an “ASO Gospel Christmas” conducted by Chelsea Tipton II. For families, there are four performances Dec. 7 and 14 for “A Kid’s Christmas” featuring the Polar Express with Lee Harper & Dancers and the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra conducted by Jere Flint.

A five-decade Atlanta tradition unfolds Dec. 11-13, (cq) with four performances of “Christmas with the ASO” featuring the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Morehouse College Glee Club, and the Gwinnett Young Singers conducted by Mackenzie.
Popular holiday standards highlight Dec. 18-20’s four performances of “A Very Merry Holiday Pops” conducted by Michael Krajewski. The season wraps up with “ASO New Year’s Eve” on Dec. 31. A complimentary glass of bubbly helps ring in 2009.
Tickets are $15-$68, depending on program. To buy tickets by phone, call 404-733-5000; in person at the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office (15th and Peachtree Streets) or online.
By Jan Shepherd, Globe Correspondent

Photos courtesy of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra