Soprano Diane Penning: Holiday at Peace celebrates community and family

But there’s something particularly special about a Christmas concert, she said.

“Every time I sing with a symphony for a holiday concert, there’s a feeling of community, family and nostalgia,” Penning said. “You feel like you’ve been invited to their family table for Christmas dinner. They embrace you like you’re part of the family.”

Penning and tenor/arranger Paul Langford are the guest soloists for this year’s Holiday at Peace performances, featuring the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, Dec. 20-22 at the Peace Center.

Greenville’s International Ballet will also return for this annual Christmas variety show.

Presiding over the Yuletide revels will be Greenville Symphony music director Edvard Tchivzhel, wearing his signature bright red tux.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” Tchivzhel said. “It’s a much-anticipated concert, and we try to create a spectacular program to reflect the many moods of Christmas – and make everyone happy.”

Santa and Mrs. Claus are likely to make an appearance as well.

‘A wealth of riches’

Penning and Langford will sing traditional and more modern songs associated with the season: “Silent Night,” “O Holy Night,” “The Christmas Waltz,” “Let it Snow!” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” among others.

“I love Christmas music,” Langford said. “It’s a wealth of riches. It’s like being at a buffet where everything tastes amazing.”

Most of the music will feature Langford’s orchestral arrangements.

Penning and Langford also will lead the audience in a singalong. It’s a Holiday at Peace tradition.

The two often perform as a piano duo but also have collaborated on 18 orchestral performances.

What’s Langford’s favorite part of the program?

“When Diane sings ‘O Holy Night,’ she brings down the house,” Langford said. “She sings these thrilling high notes and it really moves people.”

That’s also Penning’s favorite moment.

“It’s nostalgic and spiritual,” she said. “It draws us all into one big circle and maybe we’re remembering past Christmases, and everyone is so full of hope and love.”

Paul Hyde, a longtime Upstate journalist, writes about the arts for the Greenville Journal. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter: @PaulHyde7.

If you go

• What: Holiday at Peace, featuring vocalists Diane Penning and Paul Langford (presented by United Community Bank)
• When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21; 3 p.m. Dec. 22
• Where: Peace Center
• Tickets: $18 to $62; tickets for children 12 and younger are half price
• Info: 864-467-3000 or www.peacecenter.org