Festive sounds in Gießen: Christmas concert enthusiastic!

On Sunday, December 27, 2024, a festive Christmas concert took place in the Kulturkirche St. Thomas Morus in Gießen. The event was designed by the orchestra and the flute ensemble of the Gießen Musikförderverein and the choir "Ever-Greens" of the Gießen Wieseck singing club. Ulrich Dietz took over the musical direction of the choir, while Burga Seidel-Ulrich presented the texts.

The readings of spiritual texts were presented by Brigitta Meinhardt. The program, which was framed by a fanfare by Theodore Dubois, carried out by Regina Massalsky on the organ, and the song "Every year", reflected the original meaning of the Christmas festival. The sung works included pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Dietrich Buxtehude and Georg Philipp Telemann as well as "The cathedral bells on Christ Night" by Ernst Simon Flügel. Felicitas Schöll brought her soprano while Regina Massalsky accompanied the piano. Buxtehude's "Prelude and Fugue" also sounded on the organ. The "Ever-Greens" choir inspired the audience with unity and positive mood, especially at the lively Telemann's concert in B major. The end of the concert was "Oh du Fröhliche" and the organ fantasy "Christmas magic" by Otto Teich. All donations from the concert flow into the installation of an organ from the demolished Wichernkirche to the chapel of the St. Thomas Morus Church.

about the concert by Cantamus Gießen

Also on December 22, 2023, a concert by Cantamus Gießen took place in the Bonifatiuskirche. The beginning was scheduled for 7 p.m. This concert was the first after a long break, which was caused by the pandemic. The last appearance of the choir had taken place in 2019, and the ensemble had also participated in the Hessian choir competition.

The management of the choir has held Elisabeth Tzschentke since April 2023. The program included works by Johann Sebastian Bach and contemporary composers and included both traditional Christmas carols and international spiritual pieces. The aim of the concert was to offer contemplative transition to Christmas and to address the desire for peace. Cantamus Gießen had previously participated in the German Choir competition in Hanover in June 2023 and took fourth place. The event took place in cooperation with the association Friends of the St. Bonifatius church music and regional cantor Michael Gilles.

Ticket prices for the concert amounted to 9 euros for a standard ticket, while supporter tickets cost 14 euros. Children up to 12 years were able to participate free of charge. Tickets were available in advance from the "House of Tickets" in Gießen and online, while at the box office, if available, tickets were offered for 17 euros. Cantamus Gießen was founded in 2009 and has won numerous prizes in choir competitions since then.