Mystery and Wonder fills the UCSC Recital Hall this coming Saturday as the Concert Choir performs a cappella motets from the Renaissance to the 21st century. Included in this program of mystically-inflected music are avant garde 20th century chants and antiphonies from Henryk Gorecki, John Tavener and Arvo Paert.  Monteverdi’s Baroque classic Magnificat Secondo, the neo-Romantic O Magnum Mysterium by Morten Lauridsen, and its Renaissance counterpart by Tomas Luis de Victoria are also on the program of haunting harmonies and unusual chromatics.

Conducted by Nathaniel Berman, performed by the UCSC Concert Choir. 7:30pm Sat. Dec. 7, Music Center Recital Hall.  For info and tix.

Also this weekend, the Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus directed by Cheryl Anderson, will perform Bach’s Magnificat and other gorgeous music of the season, Friday and Sat, 9pm, and Sunday Dec. 8 at 4pm. @ Holy Cross Church.