Saturday, December 7 from 7pm – 8:30pm 
Best known for the chorus “The Shepherds’ Farewell”, this oratorio of 1854 recounts young Jesus’ early life and the flight of his family into Egypt to escape King Herod and his minions. Present day audiences can still be taken aback at Berlioz’s gentle lyricism and simplicity in recounting this story. The performance is a classic featuring Cesare Valletti, Florence Kopleff, Gerard Souzay, Giorgio Tozzi, The New England Conservatory of Music Chorus and the Boston Symphony Orchestra led by the great Berlioz conductor, Charles Munch. It was recorded in Symphony Hall Boston on Christmas Eve Day 1956.