Advent concert by the Hamburger Liedertafel

Festive Concert at Advent

Four choirs come togeather in this festive Christmas concert with the HansePhilharmonie Hamburg. Under the baton of Mike Steurenthaler, they perform a programme that is as festive as it is contemplative in the Laeiszhalle Grand Hall.

Wiener Advent

Preview: Wiener Advent

Advent der Gefühle

Altonaer Singakademie / Hamburger Camerata

Antonín Dvorák wrote his Mass in D major op. 86 for the consecration of a village castle chapel in 1887, so it can be seen as a kind of occasional composition, with the occasion acting as a most welcome trigger of ready forces. Sacred compositions had always played a role in Dvořák’s oeuvre, even if they seem to have taken a back seat to his symphonic works. Nevertheless, it was the Stabat Mater of 1877 that laid the foundation for the international reception of his music. The Mass in D major is much more modestly conceived, in keeping with the village setting and the possibilities of the chapel. Nevertheless, even in the original organ version, Dvorák shows his full mastery. In the compositional simplicity, the proximity to classical music, especially to Schubert as a role model, can be felt at all times. At the same time, Dvořák succeeds in capturing the cheerful, carefree atmosphere of the lovely Bohemian countryside and the simplicity of a deeply religiously rooted country folk with his own folkloristic originality of melody. Dvorák created the rarely performed orchestral version heard in this concerto in 1892, in which he remains very close to the original conception, but skilfully uses the possibilities of the orchestra to differentiate the dynamics more finely and realise a richer harmony. The »Mass of the Children«, written by John Rutter in 2002 in memory of his son Christopher, who died at the age of 19, is much more than a mass with an obbligato children’s choir part. Rutter counterpoints the mass text of the Latin Missa brevis with poetic texts in English, including verses from the pen of Bishop Thomas Ken (1637–1711), who wrote them for the scholars of Winchester College. They set the Mass in the context of a daily routine, from waking (»Awake, my soul...«) to going to sleep (»Glory to thee, my God, this night...«) and are mainly sung by the children’s choir. In this way, Rutter focuses on the Mass text from a child’s perspective, while the large choir illuminates the adult perspective. The »Mass of the Children« also sheds light on different musical perspectives. Coming from the English choral tradition himself, Rutter enriches his style in general and the Mass in particular with elements from jazz and pop by integrating them into a multi-layered harmony and rhythm. Rutter’s melodic inventiveness in the Kyrie may evoke musical associations for some, while the unusual rhythms in the Gloria are reminiscent of South American dances. In Dona nobis, Rutter quotes a canon by Thomas Tallis (ca. 1505–1585) and thus draws a line back to his own musical roots.

Hamburger Konzertchor: Frühlings-Gala

HansePhilharmonie Hamburg

Hamburger Ärzteorchester

The Hamburg Doctors’ Orchestra is mainly made up of doctors and musicians from medical professions. The orchestra was founded in 1964 and performs for charitable purposes: for example, to support the work of the Hamburg Hospice Foundation.

Anniversary concert – By Grace 30 Years

The gospel choir By Grace is one of Sweden’s foremost gospel choirs, with a repertoire that includes both traditional and modern gospel. By Grace was founded in 1995 by Daniel Stenbaek and in 2025, the choir celebrates 30 years! Join us for a wonderfully swinging gospel celebration, with Carola, Samuel Ljungblahd and some of Sweden’s best gospel musicians. The choir’s aim is to spread the message of gospel music and to highlight the hope that carries through everything.Comprising 23 singers from Stockholm, the ensemble has toured both Europe and the US. They have released six albums to date and frequently appear on TV, for example at Allsång på Skansen (Singalong at Skansen) and on TV4’s Christmas Eve programme, as well as with musicians such as Carola and Zara Larsson. In 2015, they had the honour of singing at the wedding of H.R.H. Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia at Stockholm Cathedral. By Grace has also participated on multiple occasions in Konserthuset’s big Christmas concert.By Grace director Daniel Stenbaek is one of Sweden’s leading pianists and a regular guest at Europe’s top gospel festivals. He has performed with many of Sweden’s elite musicians, including this evening’s guest artists, Carola Häggkvist and Samuel Ljungblahd.Carola has a natural place in the spotlight and is well-known for her fantastic voice, charismatic stage presence, and her broad repertoire, spanning from pop to gospel.Samuel Ljungblahd, also known as Sweden’s soul and gospel king, has worked with numerous elite musicians in Sweden, including Lisa Nilsson, Carola, Sarah Dawn Finer, Timbuktu and Danny Saucedo.

Anniversary concert – By Grace 30 Years

The gospel choir By Grace is one of Sweden’s foremost gospel choirs, with a repertoire that includes both traditional and modern gospel. By Grace was founded in 1995 by Daniel Stenbaek and in 2025, the choir celebrates 30 years! Join us for a wonderfully swinging gospel celebration, with Carola, Samuel Ljungblahd and some of Sweden’s best gospel musicians. The choir’s aim is to spread the message of gospel music and to highlight the hope that carries through everything.Comprising 23 singers from Stockholm, the ensemble has toured both Europe and the US. They have released six albums to date and frequently appear on TV, for example at Allsång på Skansen (Singalong at Skansen) and on TV4’s Christmas Eve programme, as well as with musicians such as Carola and Zara Larsson. In 2015, they had the honour of singing at the wedding of H.R.H. Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia at Stockholm Cathedral. By Grace has also participated on multiple occasions in Konserthuset’s big Christmas concert.By Grace director Daniel Stenbaek is one of Sweden’s leading pianists and a regular guest at Europe’s top gospel festivals. He has performed with many of Sweden’s elite musicians, including this evening’s guest artists, Carola Häggkvist and Samuel Ljungblahd.Carola has a natural place in the spotlight and is well-known for her fantastic voice, charismatic stage presence, and her broad repertoire, spanning from pop to gospel.Samuel Ljungblahd, also known as Sweden’s soul and gospel king, has worked with numerous elite musicians in Sweden, including Lisa Nilsson, Carola, Sarah Dawn Finer, Timbuktu and Danny Saucedo.

120 years of Hamburger Orchestergemeinschaft

As Hamburg’s oldest amateur symphony orchestra, the Hamburger Orchestergemeinschaft from 1904 organises at least two concerts a year. Time and again, the orchestra gives young, very talented conductors and soloists the opportunity to gain experience with public performances in large concert halls. For the anniversary concert, the orchestra under the direction of Wolf Tobias M. Müller showcases its musical breadth with a colourful bouquet of overtures and arias from Mozart to Puccini as well as Schubert’s »Unfinished« Symphony. To celebrate the anniversiary, a new percussion concerto by Fredrik Schwenk will be premiered.