Some holiday concert magic will take place when the Musicians of the Old Post Road return to the historic Gloucester Meetinghouse for the seventh consecutive year to perform Thursday, Dec. 7.
The concert “Heavenly Baroque Christmas” begins at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, also known as the Gloucester Meetinghouse, at the corner of Middle and Church streets. A handicap accessible side entrance with an elevator is at 10 Church St.
“This candle-lit concert will transport you with celestial music of the season from Spain and New Spain,” said Charles Nazarian, president of the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation.
The concert features music by Iribarren, Salazar, and others, including Zumaya, the first Mexican classical composer of Indigenous descent. The Musicians of the Old Post Road, performing on period instruments, are joined by guests from Ensemble La Fontegara of Mexico, soprano Adriana Ruiz and mezzo-soprano Hilary Anne Walker.
Organizers chose the Thursday evening date because the Cape Ann weekend calendars are already filled with holiday events and concerts.
“So have yourself a merry little Thursday night out for some gorgeous Baroque music for strings, flute, harpsichord and voice that you won’t find anywhere else, a seasonal delight to the ear and a balm for the soul,” wrote Nazarian in a program statement.
Tickets are available at www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org, or at the door by cash, check or credit card.
Small & Spectacular holiday art show
Rockport Art Association & Museum is holding it holiday fundraising exhibition “Small & Spectacular” featuring small works, including photography, by juried artist members for holiday giving. The show runs through Dec. 31 in the Maddocks Gallery.
There also is a Thirsty Thursday Reception on Dec. 14, from 6 p.m. to 8 at the art association at 12 Main St. in downtown Rockport. For more details, visit www.rockportartassn.org.
Israeli-American author event
The Gloucester Writers Centers presents a reading and conversation with Linda Dittmar, author of “Tracing Homelands: Israel, Palestine, and the Claims of Belonging,” this Thursday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main St..
The book — part history, part travelogue and part memoir — is described as a “raw and courageous memoir of the 1948 war and its aftermath and the searing personal journey to uncover the suppressed traumas, facts, and myths that undergird the so-called Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
Born in 1938, Dittmar witnessed the effects of the Holocaust and the Palestinians’ Nakba, according to a program statement. She has resided in the United States since 1961. She earned a doctorate from Stanford University, taught literature and film at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and retired as professor emerita.
For more information, visit gloucesterwriters.org.
Gloucester 400+ art exhibit and sale
An art exhibit and sale, “Celebrating Home: A Solstice Event” takes place on Saturday, Dec. 9, and Sunday, Dec. 10, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at O’Maley Innovation Middle School, 32 Cherry St..
Together with Gloucester 400+, Joy Buell and her fellow artists present this free festival of fine arts and crafts. Featured are works by Buell, Tom Amend, Elizabeth Bish, Denise Brown, Sara Collins, Jane Gardner, Joanne Hurd, Ann Lafferty, Juliet Lockwood, Toby Milgrome, Kathy Morris, Dawn Pratson, Evy Stewart, Sue Van, and Leslie Wind among others.
Each artist has created works that best express their Cape Ann experience. They are eager to display and talk about their art and how they set about creating their pieces. The entire festival offers a variety of artistic styles that should appeal to a wide audience. For details, visit www.gloucesterma400.org.
In support of trees
In support of the “400 Trees Gloucester project,” Jane Deering Gallery presents the exhibit “Branching Out” on Saturday, Dec. 9, and Sunday, Dec. 10, from 1 p.m. to 4 at 19 Pleasant St., Gloucester, with holiday refreshments.
The gallery will donate 30% of its proceeds to the 400 Trees project, founded by Gloucester resident Peter Lawrence. The project has three stages: planting 400 trees; locating the city’s oldest trees; and learning about trees, done in collaboration with the Cape Ann Y, Sawyer Free Library and programs within Gloucester Public Schools.
Participating artists are Aaron Fink, Adin Murray, Ann Conneman, Celia Eldridge, Cheryl Dyment, Coco Berkman, Elizabeth Awalt, Esther Pullman, Gabrielle Barzaghi, Geoffrey Bayliss, George Wingate, Hélène Falcon, James Paradis, Jesse Mireles, Juni Van Dyke, Karen Matthews, Katherine Richmond, Kristine Fisher, Laura Gettler, Liz Fletcher, Maria Malatesta, Michael Porter, Neeta Madahar, Paige Farrell, Ro Snell, Sue Willis and Tom Fels.
For details, visit janedeeringgallery.com.
Free Santa event
This holiday season, Apothecary Suil Crow, at 9 Whistlestop Mall in Rockport, celebrates the “Olde Traditions” by offering two days to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. This is a free event for young and old to come and get their picture taken and enjoy some festive cheer and music. The dates are Friday, Dec. 8, and Friday, Dec. 15, from noon to 5 p.m. Each person who attends will receive a gift from Mrs. Claus. Santa Claus — also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa — is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Christmas Eve, notes the event statement.
Concert at Hammond Castle Museum
Hammond Castle Museum, 80 Hesperus Ave., Gloucester, presents the sounds of a New Orleans Christmas with a concert on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 7 p.m. to 9, featuring Jambalaya Horns & Big Band. The performance will showcase a number of musicians from the New England music scene, Cape Ann Big Band and student-musicians and vocalists from area schools. The special guest vocalist is Henri Smith, a New Orleans native. For tickets and details, visit hammondcastle.org.
Holiday pottery sale
Cynthia Curtis holds her annual holiday pottery show and sale this Saturday, Dec. 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 80 Pigeon Hill St., Rockport, with ample parking and refreshments during the open house at the studio warmed with a wood stove. Curtis is celebrating her 29th year as a ceramicist and teacher of more than 1,300 students. There will be an array of stoneware pottery ideal for gift giving. The studio is nestled near a wooded area in Pigeon Cove. The gallery is also open daily. For more information, visit www.cynthiacurtispottery.com.
Around Cape Ann is a column devoted to events happening on Cape Ann and artists from Cape Ann performing elsewhere. If you would like to submit an item, contact reporter Gail McCarthy at 978-675-2706 or gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com at least two weeks in advance.