The Mondavi Center celebrates the holidays with Handel’s Messiah, dating from 1741, and something new: the U.S. premiere of Natt I Betlehem, a collection of Christmas music originally recorded in the Nativity Church of Bethlehem.

The Mondavi Center’s holiday schedule also includes Fiesta Navidad, presented by Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano.

• Natt I Betlehem — “Meditatively beautiful” Christmas music, as described by the Mondavi Center. Presented four times by Tord Gustavsen, piano; Solveign Slettahjell, vocals; and Sjur Miljeteig, trumpet. 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, Dec. 1-4, Vanderhoef Studio Theatre.

• Fiesta Navidad — “Much more than a holiday singalong, Fiesta Navidad is a feast for the eyes and ears, featuring impeccable interpretations of traditional Mexican and American holiday songs and a lavish stage show with dancers in full regalia.” 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, Jackson Hall.

• Messiah — The Mondavi Center continues its holiday tradition of bringing in the American Bach Soloists to perform the Bach masterpiece. UC Davis Choral Director Jeffrey Thomas leads this early music ensemble. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, Jackson Hall.

More at the Mondavi Center

• Kronos Quartet — In an eclectic program created excluisvely for the Mondavi Center, the string quartet underscores the narrow distance between contmporary classical music and instrumental rock, with works by the Icelandic band Sigur Rós, film composer Clint Mansell (Requiem for a Dream) and more. 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, Jackson Hall. Related event: a free screening of the film Heima, documenting Sigur Rós's biggest and smallest shows. 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6, Vanderhoef Studio Theatre.

• Campus Community Book Project: Author's Talk — Beverly Daniel Tatum: Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race. Postperformance question-and-answer session. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, Jackson Hall. Related event: free Forum@MC, panel discussion, 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, Jackson Hall. More information.

• Lara Downes Family Concert: Neverland to Wonderland — Drawing on the classic tales Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland, Artist-in-Residence Downes, a pianist, celebrates childhood mystery and enchantment, including music by Leonard Bernstein, Erich Korngold, Benny Golson and David Del Tredici. The program includes a multimedia element created and directed by Mindy Cooper, with performers from the new Mondavi Center Young Artists Theatre Workshop. 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, Vanderhoef Studio Theatre.

The Dec. 6 film screening and the Dec. 10 Forum@MC are free; all other programs are ticketed events. Tickets and more information. Or call (530) 754-2787 or (866) 754-2787.