Midnight Mass for Christmas | Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit in a Historic San Miguel Temple
On Friday and Saturday, December 19 and 20, the Templo de la Tercera Orden Franciscana in San Miguel de Allende hosts Messe de Minuit pour Noël, Marc‑Antoine Charpentier’s enchanting 1694 “Midnight Mass for Christmas” for choir, soloists and orchestra. Written on the melodies of traditional French carols, the work surrounds the audience with music that moves from intimate pastoral lines to joyful, dance‑like passages, all within a 17th‑century church renowned for its warm acoustics and historic pipe organ.
Beloved guest organist Charles Raines presides at the Johnson organ, offering interludes and seasonal carols that weave between movements of the mass and extend the program with additional Christmas repertoire for chorus and organ. With tiered seating that includes a VIP option at 700 MXN, this two‑night concert invites locals, expats and visitors to experience a cornerstone of the French Baroque in an atmospheric colonial setting—an ideal way to immerse in both European sacred music and the rich cultural life of San Miguel de Allende.
Organizer
Chorale San Miguel is a choral ensemble based in San Miguel de Allende that also acts as an organizer of large-scale sacred and classical music concerts in the city. Through carefully curated programs of masses, oratorios, a cappella works, and pieces for choir and orchestra spanning the last four centuries, the group—under the artistic direction of Malcolm Halliday—brings together auditioned community singers, professional soloists, and instrumental ensembles to produce high-caliber performances in historic venues.
Venue
The Templo de la Tercera Orden is located at San Francisco 14, Zona Centro, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, C.P. 37700. Built in the early 17th century beside the Templo de San Francisco, this historic church features simple architecture and Baroque touches, marking it as one of the city’s oldest religious landmarks. Dedicated in July 1713, the church remains a serene and significant site for spirituality and community memory in the center of San Miguel de Allende.
