Taking someone you love to a Holiday Concert is a great December tradition, but how do you know what you will like? Are there really that many choices? We dealt with Messiah performances earlier this week, but here are the season's best and not so best, all around Washington. Use the comments section if we've missed something.

INTERESTING:
>> The Folger Consort gives the best Christmas concert in Washington, with excellent performances of unusual repertory. The program this year is called Greensleeves: Christmas at the Court and Chapel of Henry VIII, held as always in the beautifully decorated Elizabethan Theater at the Folger Shakespeare Library. See their web site for concert dates, which start December 15.

>> Closely competing this season, however, is an excellent program put together by the fine choral group Chantry, with the Orchestra of the 17th Century on historical instruments. Two gorgeous works for Christmas back to back: Palestrina's Missa Hodie Christus natus est and Schütz's Christmas Oratorio. There is only performance, at the church of St. Mary Mother of God (727 Fifth St. NW). December 16 (8 p.m.)

>> The The Metropolitan Chorus has programmed one of the more unusual holiday concerts this Sunday, Season's Greetings, in which they will be joined by the Washington Balalaika Society. That means the theme must be Russian. Thomas Jefferson Theater (125 S. Old Glebe Rd., Arlington). December 10 (3 p.m.)

>> In a recent review, I called for more performances of the music of Gerald Finzi. Apparently, people heed my words: the Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church Choir will be performing Finzi's In Terra Pax ("A Christmas Scene for Soprano and Baritone Soloists, Choir, and Chamber Orchestra"). Advantage: free. Disadvantage: part of a religious service at Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church (4th St. and Independence Ave. SE). We are told that Presbyterians are very nice people. December 17 (11 a.m.)

>> The latest concert by the Kennedy Center Chamber Players, at the Terrace Theater, barely qualifies as a Christmas Concert. However, alongside music by Beethoven and Brahms, they will perform A Little Suite for Christmas, A.D. 1979 by the experimental composer George Crumb. I am sure that Christmas will never be the same. December 17 (2 p.m.)

>> The Norwegians do great Christmas, as you know if you have ever been to Norwegian Christmas at Union Station. The Embassy of Norway has cosponsored a free concert of Christmas music from Norway and other countries for one of the Sunday concerts at the National Gallery of Art. December 17 (6:30 p.m.)

EVERYTHING ELSE:
>> Marvin Hamlisch leads the NSO Pops in its Happy Holidays! concert at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. December 8 to 10

>> Other than Messiah, there are two other tried and true holiday musical traditions, and one is Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors, performed this year by Opera Vivente at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, in Baltimore. December 8 to 10

>> The other piece you cannot avoid this month is Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker. For an unusual twist on this familiar tale, try the Washington Ballet's annual staging at the Warner Theater. Choreographer Septime Webre caused quite a stir with this production, when he costumed the Nutcracker as George Washington and the Rat King as King George III and based the sets on Washington locations, like the Tidal Basin during cherry blossom time. It's a gorgeous show and one of the rare chances to see a ballet in Washington with music provided by a live orchestra. Now, almost continuously, through December 23

>> Not feeling in the mood for Christmas? Dumbarton Oaks hosts a winter solstice concert called a Festival of Lights. This year, the Turtle Island String Quartet performs. Jazz and other light favorites will figure prominently. December 8 to 10

>> If it's carol singing you want, plan to go to the National Gallery of Art one of these weekends, where holiday caroling will be taking place, for free, under the Rotunda of the West Building. Check the NGA schedule for what groups are performing when, every Saturday and Sunday afternoon. December 9/10, 16/17, and 23/24 (1:30 and 2:30 p.m.)

>> Like your Christmas carols instrumental? The popular Empire Brass will give a concert, For the Holidays, in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. December 10 (7:30 p.m.)

>> Cathedral Choral Society, Children's Chorus of Washington, Washington Symphonic Brass, Scott Dettra at the organ: The Joy of Christmas at Washington National Cathedral. December 15 to 17

>> The Washington Chorus, Music for Christmas. December 16 (2 p.m., Kennedy Center); December 21 (7 p.m., Strathmore); December 23 (1 p.m., Kennedy Center)

>> Choral Arts Society, Christmas Music, Kennedy Center Concert Hall. December 18 (7 p.m.), December 22 (1:30 p.m.)

>> Some dedicated folks from the Choral Arts Society give a fun little Family Christmas Concert in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. It was a nice enough event last year, although some of the group's members got a little testy that my review was not a rave. December 16 (2 and 4 p.m.)

>> Choral Arts Society, Christmas Music with the American Youth Philharmonic, mezzo-soprano Jennifer Larmore, in the Music Center at Strathmore. December 20 (7 p.m.)

>> Master Chorale of Washington continues a great tradition, the Christmas Candlelight Concert in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. At last year's concert, the candlelight part was too short but still quite nice. December 17 (2 p.m.), December 23 (4 p.m.)

>> The Capital City Symphony joins with Congressional Chorus for a Holiday Carol Sing at the brand-spanking new Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St. NE). December 17 (5 p.m.)

>> The Heritage Signature Chorale's Holiday Concert, in the Mansion at Strathmore. December 17 (3 and 7:30 p.m.)

>> The Sigmund Romberg Orchestra and Soloists give a concert called A Viennese Christmas at Strathmore. December 14 (7 p.m.)