MONROE — On Sunday, Dec. 22, the last Sunday of advent this year, the fourth candle will be lit above the wreath hanging in St. Victor’s Catholic Church. Following previous candles symbolizing hope, faith and joy, it symbolizes peace. It’s a fitting theme and setting for the Bel Canto Singers Christmas concert that also happens to mark the group’s 40 years in existence.
“This is the time when you switch off all the craziness of Christmas and you start concentrating on what it’s really about,” said Hans Bernet, who founded Bel Canto Singers with his wife Bobbie Bernet and some of their friends in the Monroe couple’s living room in 1979.
The small group started out singing madrigals, secular songs from the renaissance and early baroque era for two to eight voices, but their first performance was at the Monroe Arts Center at Christmastime. Their spring pops show is still held there.
Bel Canto Singers now has the most performers in its history — about 45 members that come anywhere from New Glarus into state line Illinois — and have gained multiple new members this year, including a high school junior and a retired businessman.
“Really everyone is welcomed,” said second soprano Lisa Hendrickson, who joined the group in 1980. She left for a period due to other obligations but has since returned.
Allen Redford, who has directed the group since the early 2000s — roughly the same period they began holding their Christmas concerts at St. Victor’s — said there’s nothing wrong with secular Christmas music, which he loves. But those songs aren’t what will be heard on Sunday.
The program is comprised entirely of sacred selections, including the hymns “Angels from the Realms of Glory” and “Veni, Veni, Emmanuel.”
“He wants the whole thing to almost be a service,” Hans Bernet said, noting that Redford asks for no applause after individual numbers. “You really get into the spirit of things.”
Redford said he tries to choose a variety of stylistic periods, giving examples of “O Magnum Mysterium,” written around 1570, and “A Spotless Rose,” an old text in a brand new setting.
Several instrumentalists will also be part of the program, playing the oboe, violin and more. Deborah Krauss Smith will play organ interludes during the performance, and choir member Deb Krattiger will play saxophone during “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”
For the first time this year, the Bel Canto Singers have been able to hold their final rehearsals at St. Victor’s, rather than practicing elsewhere and quickly readjusting to the church’s acoustics.
In another 2019 first, the group will give two performances. Besides the usual 7 p.m. concert, there will be one at 3 p.m., and Hans thinks that will allow them to reach a new audience.
“There are probably many people who would love this kind of music who are older and don’t like to drive at night,” he said.
Another benefit of the additional show will be to address the sheer volume of attendees. Hans Bernet said that for the past several years the sanctuary has been full, and the choir even gave up their own reserved seats last year because people were still arriving.
He said the concert has gotten to be a tradition.
“Over the years,” said soprano soloist Jane Olson, “People have told us that this … has become part of their Christmas.”
