Christmas in Vienna – live transmission

20 DEC 2024: On 20 December, Clasart Classic transmits the concert Christmas in Vienna live from Vienna’s Konzerthaus to German movie theatres.

On 20 December, Clasart Classic brings a special concert to German movie theatres: Christmas in Vienna has been one of the musical highlights of the Christmas season for many years. Each year, the gala invites stars from the classical music world to the festively decorated Great Hall of the Vienna Konzerthaus. The concert transports its audience for a few moments into a unique world, prepares them for Christmas, and evokes a sense of peace among people – whether from humanism or religious conviction.

In the past, superstars of classical music such as Thomas Hampson, Grace Bumbry, Juan Diego Flórez, and Elīna Garanča have brought the Christmas gala concert to a level of international popularity.

This year, three internationally renowned artists will take the stage: the vocal soloists Magdalena Kožená, Jonathan Tetelman, and Carlos Álvarez. The ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien will perform under the direction of French conductor Claire Levacher, joined by the Wiener Sängerknaben and the Wiener Singakademie.

The varied program ranges from traditional Christmas songs from around the world to popular hits, from A Little Drummer Boy and Silent Night to Panis Angelicus. Orchestral pieces complete the program: The ORF Radio-Symphonieorcheste Wien will perform excerpts from Rimsky-Korsakov's suite The Snow Maiden as well as Handel's Hallelujah. Actor, author and musician Stefan Jürgens reads texts related to the Christmas season.

Recording location Vienna Konzerthaus
Duration 95min
Recording date 20.12.2024
Orchestra / Band ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien
Conductor Claire Levacher
Choir Wiener Singakademie
Choir Wiener Sängerknaben
Soloist Magdalena Kožená
Soloist Jonathan Tetelman
Soloist Carlos Álvarez
Soloist Stefan Jürgens