Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847)
Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her
Nun komm, der Heiden heiland

Johannes Eccard (1533-1611)
Übers Gebirg Maria geht
Maria durch ein Dornwald ging

Pietro Lappi (?1575-1630)
Canzon La Negrona
Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her
Kommet, ihr Hirten
Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabelle

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme

Michael Praetorius (1571-1621)
Dance from the Terpsichore
Freu Dich, Erd und Sternenzelt

Percy E. Fletcher (1879-1932)
Festival Offertorium

Max Reger (1873-1916)
O Jesulein süß

Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863)
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Sanctus, Benedictus

Georg Friedrich Haendel (1685-1759)
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba

Piotr Ilyitch Tchaikovski (1840-1893)
Blumenwalzer, Nussnacker Suite, op. 71a

Dresdner Kreuzchor
Martin Flämig, direction
Dresdner Philharmonie
Reußisches Kammerorchester
Kammerchor der Frauenkirche Dresden
Matthias Grünert, direction
Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden
Semper Brass
Matthias Grünert, direction

This collection opens with "Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her" by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, performed by none other than the famous Dresdner Kreuzchor together with the Dresden Philharmonic under the direction of Martin Flämig. The Chamber Choir of the Dresden Frauenkirche then follows. Under the direction of Matthias Grünert, cantor of the Frauenkirche, the well-known chorale "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland" is featured in six different settings that wonderfully juxtapose the successful chorale arrangements by Samuel Scheidt, Johann Heinrich Schein, Johann Pachelbel, and Michael Praetorius. The chamber choir of the Frauenkirche Dresden, this time supported by the Reuss Chamber Orchestra, is then heard again with the Sanctus and Benedictus from Joseph Haydn's "Harmoniemesse." Matthias Grünert also performs the so popular chorale prelude "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" by Johann Sebastian Bach on the Kern organ of the Frauenkirche Dresden. The colorful program is rounded off with instrumental interludes by Georg Friedrich Handel (Arrival of the Queen of Sheba) and Michael Praetorius' (Terpsichore) with Semper Brass. The crowning finale is Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers" with the Saxon State Orchestra under the direction of Hans Vonk. An opulent Christmas treat for the ears!