Holiday stages: Classical/choral events in metro Phoenix

Holiday shows are all about tradition, whether it's the spectacle of "The Nutcracker," the awe of Handel's "Messiah" or the rock-and-roll antics of Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding. With dozens of concerts and plays onstage in the Valley, there is definitely something for everyone — even for humbugs.

Phoenix Symphony: 'The Polar Express'

All aboard for a family concert inspired by the Christmas tale best known from the 2004 animated film starring Tom Hanks. The sing-along event features the Phoenix Girls Chorus.

Details: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St., Phoenix. $11-$19. 602-495-1999, phoenixsymphony.org.

— Kerry Lengel

North Valley Chorale: 'Tidings of Joy'

The 47-member chorale joins with a 19-piece orchestra to offer a selection of favorite holiday songs and Bach's "Magnificat." This marks the sixth season for the chorale, which is directed by Eleanor Johnson.

Details: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5. Chaparral Christian Church, 6451 East Shea Blvd., Scottsdale. $15-$20. at 602-464-4100, northvalleychorale.org.

— Randy Cordova

Phoenix Symphony: 'Holiday Pops'

Sing-along carols are one of the highlights of this annual extravaganza featuring guest conductor Stuart Chafetz, the Phoenix Symphony Chorus, the Phoenix Girls Chorus and the Desert Bells handbell choir.

Details: Friday through Sunday, Dec. 5-7. Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St., Phoenix. $18-$83. 602-495-1999, phoenixsymphony.org.

— Kerry Lengel

12th Annual Organ Christmas Concert

Kimberly Marshall, Arizona State University's Goldman professor of organ and the 1985 winner of the St. Albans Competition, shows off her keyboard skills — and those of her students — at Organ Hall, home to a Fritts & Co. organ with 1,900 pipes, as well as an Italian Baroque organ built by Domenico Traeri in 1742.

Details: 2:30 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6; 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. Organ Hall, ASU School of Music, Mill Avenue and Gammage Parkway, Tempe. $8-$19. 480-965-6447, music.asu.edu/events.

— Kerry Lengel

Sonoran Desert Chorale: 'Rejoice and Sing!'

The chorale teams with the Sonoran Brass Quintet teams for a program that ranges from the 17th-century motet "Gaudete Omnes" to the contemporary "All My Heart This Night Rejoices" by Stroope.

Details: $15-$18. 480-305-4538, sonorandesertchorale.org.

•7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at First United Methodist Church, 15 E. First Ave., Mesa.

•3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, Valley Presbyterian Church, 6947 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley.

— Randy Cordova

Scottsdale Philharmonic

Selections for this holiday benefit concert include Borodin's "Polovtsian Dances," Mozart's "Jupiter" symphony and "God Bless America."

Details: 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St. $15. 480-499-8587, scottsdaleperformingarts.org, scottsdalephilharmonic.com.

— Kerry Lengel

Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix: 'Holidays with Orpheus'

The chorus is older than the state, having made its debut in 1900. The group now boasts more than 75 members. The group's holiday shows usually include such familiar fare as "Carol of the Bells" and "Sleigh Ride."

Details: $15-$20; free for age 12 and younger. 602-271-9396, orpheus.org.

•7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, Velda Rose United Methodist Church, 5540 E. Main St., Mesa.

• 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, Camelback Bible Church, 3900 E. Stanford Drive, Paradise Valley.

•7:30 p.m. Tuesday, All Saints Lutheran Church, 15649 N. Seventh St., Phoenix.

— Randy Cordova

Phoenix Symphony: Handel's 'Messiah'

New music director Tito Muñoz takes his first turn leading the orchestra and the Phoenix Symphony Chorus in annual performances of this oratorio about the life of Jesus by Baroque composer George Frideric Handel. "HAAAAA-le-lu-jah!"

Details: 602-495-1999, phoenixsymphony.org.

•7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St. $29-$49.

•7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $25-$49.

•7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Camelback Bible Church, 3900 E. Stanford Drive, Paradise Valley. $39.

•3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, 25150 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. $49.

— Kerry Lengel

Phoenix Metropolitan Men's Chorus: 'Naughty, Nice, Sugar & Spice'

It's the annual holiday bash from the chorus, which celebrates its 24th anniversary this season.

Details: 8 p.m. Friday; 7 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12-14. John Paul Theater, 1202 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix. $25. 602-228-5587, phoenixmenschorus.org.

— Randy Cordova

Symphony of the Southwest

Selections from Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" suite highlight the holiday program by this community orchestra formerly known as the Mesa Symphony Orchestra.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $19. 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com, symphonyofthesouthwest.org.

— Kerry Lengel

'A Phoenix Boys Choir Holiday'

The acclaimed chorus, which has been performing since 1949, performs the multicultural "A World of Carols," Handel's "Hallelujah" chorus and an enactment of the classic poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas," aka " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas."

Details: $18-$28. 602-264-5328, ext. 21; boyschoir.org.

•7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. St. Theresa Catholic Church, 5045 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix.

•6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15. American Lutheran Church, 17200 N. Del Webb Blvd., Sun City.

•7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St.

•7:30 Saturday, Dec. 20. Camelback Bible Church, 3900 E. Stanford Drive, Paradise Valley.

•5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21. Chaparral Christian Church, 6451 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale.

— Kerry Lengel

Salt River Brass

Founded in 1988, the Tempe-based community ensemble's annual holiday pops program mixes popular tunes such as "Jingle Bells" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" with classical selections such as Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, Shostakovich's "Festive Overture" and Biebl's "Ave Maria." That's Franz Biebl, the 20th-century German composer, not Justin Bieber.

Details: 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $15-$22. 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com, saltriverbrass.com.

— Kerry Lengel

'A Chorale Christmas'

The Grammy Award-winning Phoenix Chorale sings Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo's intricate a cappella arrangements of traditional carols, including "The First Nowell," "Away in a Manger" and "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." Also on the program: Arvo Pärt's "Seven Magnificat Antiphons," a 20th-century setting of the Vespers prayer service (in Latin).

Details: $15-$34. 602-253-2224, phoenixchorale.org.

•7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, and Monday, Dec. 22. Brophy Chapel, 4701 N. Central Ave., Phoenix.

•2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20. Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 13724 W. Meeker Blvd., Sun City West.

•7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20. Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 100 W. Roosevelt St., Phoenix.

•3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21. Camelback Bible Church, 3900 E. Stanford Drive, Paradise Valley.

— Kerry Lengel

Phoenix Symphony: 'New Year's Eve Celebration'

Guest conductor Stuart Chafetz rings in 2015 with a mix of seasonal melodies, Strauss waltzes and pop selections by Rodgers & Hammerstein and Simon & Garfunkel.

Details: 4 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31. Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St., Phoenix. $18-$83. 602-495-1999, phoenixsymphony.org.

— Kerry Lengel