December is over half gone and Christmas is fast approaching. Downtown Portsmouth is decorated for the holidays in an old-fashioned manner, reminiscent of the Port City’s early days. As always, the arts prevail in this seacoast city, with lots to do before the dawn of the New Year. The following five things to know about Portsmouth this week will keep you both busy and entertained.
The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra will perform its annual Holiday Family Pops Concert on December 18 at the Music Hall. Show are at 7:30 and 9 p.m. Both performances will include the choruses of both Portsmouth High School and York High School. Tickets are $30 for general admission, $25 for seniors aged 65 and over and $15 for students.
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Enjoy a performance of Verdi’s La Traviata at the Music Hall, under the direction of Met Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin on December 22 at 1 p.m. The three-part opera lasts three hours. There will be two intermissions between acts. Tickets are $29, with students paying just $15.
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A second opportunity for enjoying the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra arises on December 22 at the South Church. Brassy Baroque Christmas is an uplifting Christmas concert with both holiday favorites with Baroque selections mixed in. Tickets are just $12 in advance at http://brownpapertickets.com or $15 at the door. The South Church is located at 292 State Street in Portsmouth. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.
Master storyteller Diane Edgecomb, along with harpist Margot Chamberlain and multi-instrumentalist Tom Megan, present the Winter Solstice in Story & Song, as part of New Hampshire Theatre Project’s 30th Anniversary Season. The performance will take place on December 20 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25. For more information and to make reservations, call (603) 431-6644, extension 5.
The City of Portsmouth Recreation Department has announced that all adult Portsmouth residents may use the facility, which includes a gym, basketball court and indoor swimming pool, at no cost from December 17-23. The gym is located at 30 Spinnaker Way. Proof of residency must be shown.
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