Coming up in Philly music: Lyric Fest greets midwinter with rising Philly musicians

The Choral Arts New Year’s Eve concert attracted a sellout crowd, and the audience was glad they’d come. Anyone who enjoyed that event should feel the next Lyric Fest song program is worth hearing. Three of the performers made major contributions to the Choral Arts extravaganza: soprano Jessica Beebe, mezzo Maren Montalbano, and bass Cody Muller. Most of the rest are young Philadelphians building local reputations.

Montalbano and Muller are featured soloists. Beebe will participate as a member of Variant 6 — a six-member ensemble that specializes in vocal chamber works. They have formed a group that’s the vocal equivalent of an instrumental chamber ensemble. It’s a novel addition to the chamber-music scene and its members are all young Philadelphians with solo careers, including Beebe and tenor Steven Bradshaw.

The subject of the Lyric Fest concert will be the tundra — the windswept expanse that forms the northern border of seven European countries. The program will include songs by composers like Sibelius, Shostakovitch, and Chopin, along with items like an Icelandic prayer and works by lesser-known composers influenced by the northern landscape. Lyric Fest is the only Philadelphia organization specializing in song programs and has presented more than 60 concerts without producing a dud.

Lyric Fest will present Songs of the Tundra on Saturday, January 12, at 4pm at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill (8855 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia); and on Sunday, January 13, at 3pm at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral (23 S. 38th Street). Tickets ($25 in advance; $30 at the door; $10 for students) are available at www.lyricfest.org and 215-438-1702.