Festive Christmas Music

When it comes to choirs, trumpeters, carol singing, plays and so on, and to who has the best cultural programme, there is a degree of friendly competition between Germany's Christmas markets. But Germany is also a hive of cultural activity away from the markets and shopping areas during the Christmas period.

Churches, abbeys, castles and palaces all over Germany organise superb concert programmes. There are also Advent choral performances and Nativity plays to reflect the festive mood. Large churches have organ recitals, and wellknown choirs sing Advent songs and Christmas carols. The "Regensburger Domspatzen" boys' choir, for example, sings regularly in Regensburg Cathedral at Christmas time.

Bayreuth is most famous for its Wagner Festival but it also stages a popular Christmas concert at the Margravial Opera House. In Eisenach the Christmas concerts at St. George's Church are a perfect musical preparation for Christmas. And Leipzig, home of the Gewandhaus Orchestra and St. Thomas's Choir, comes into its own at Christmas time.