Singing in the Holiday Spirit

Annual Christmas show by the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles draws hundreds of music lovers to the Alex Theatre.

Fans of the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles packed the Alex Theatre on Sunday for their annual Christmas concert, "Holidays L.A." that included a combination of traditional and contemporary choral music and dancing. Wearing red ties and boutonnieres on their coats, members of the chorus performed to a full house. Unconventional renditions of holiday favorites were a hit with the audience.

One of the musical numbers that rendered a response from the crowd was Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers," from Swan Lake. Tutu-clad male ballerinas in tights took to the stage and danced asflowers in the spotlight while a dancer dressed as a prince, made an appearance.

The number wasn't without humor. As the prince came on stage, the flowers pretended to dislike his presence but he did the best he could to impress them with his silly dancing. Laughter and applause broke out from the crowd as the prince stumbled and fell at the feet of the dancing flowers.

During the intermission, concert-goers awaited the second act of the show. "They just keep getting better and better," Richard Altman, a Los Angeles resident, said.

"They are comical and fun." Other attendees, including William and Marguerite Barnes, of Moorpark, were impressed with the talent they saw on stage. "They're wonderful and this is not the first time I've seen them," Marguerite Barnes said. William Barnes appreciated the comedy. "'The Waltz of the Flowers' was hilarious," he said. "It added to the merriment of the music."

On Sunday, some of the youngest concert-goers came to hear the Gay Men's Chorus. Eduardo Santiago and his 3-year-old niece Olivia attended the concert. Olivia liked the flower ballerinas. "It's their best one yet," Santiago said. [Olivia] has been here three times. It puts us in the holiday spirit."