BEST BETS Sunday 12/17

NEWPORT BEACH

4pm

Music

Formed in 1998, the Orange County Women’s Chorus is a group devoted to a wide variety of repertoire and the only chorus of its kind in the county. For this holiday program, the chorus will team with guest artists, Men in Blaque, an Irvine-based men’s chorus directed by Joseph Huszti. Their program, “Three Unbelievable Things About Christmas,” will include works by Byrd, Praetorius, Brahms, Durufle and Daniel Pinkham.

* Orange County Women’s Chorus, Newport Harbor Lutheran Church, 798 Dover Drive, Newport Beach. 4 p.m. Suggested donation of $10. (949) 548-3631.

COSTA MESA

7pm

Music

For its annual “ ‘Tis the Season” program, the Pacific Chorale led by John Alexander will sing holiday favorites, including the “Hallelujah!” chorus from Handel’s “Messiah.” The program also will include composer-in-residence Eric Whitacre’s first commission for the Santa Ana-based chorus, entitled “Winters.” The new piece is scored for chorus, strings, harp and sitar. The work is a setting of three poems by Edward Esch on the subject of snow.

* Pacific Chorale, Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 7 p.m. $17 to $100. (714) 556-2787.