Tue, 9 February 2010
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Expatica’s classical music reviewer, Sumi Somaskanda, previews this season’s musical and edible Christmas treats.If you’re like me, the magic of Germany’s Christmas markets never gets old. Whether it’s the smell of roasted chestnuts, the glitter of the twinkling lights, or the sweet and spicy taste on the tongue after a swig of hot glühwein, I can’t seem to get enough of the Christmas spirit.
But after you’ve sampled the Belgian waffles and picked up a few presents, make a point to drop in at the concert hall just around the corner for some of the sounds of the holiday season.
Here’s a list of Christmas concerts you can enjoy after a trip (or many trips) to the Christmas market:
-Nürnberg boasts one of Germany’s most beloved Christmas markets but it’s also home to the Nürnberg Symphony. The talented ensemble is spreading the holiday cheer with a special concert on December 26th titled Musical Winter Daydreams. The orchestra will feature festive favorites like Samuel Coleridge’s Christmas Overture, Julius FuÄík’s beautiful Winter Storms waltz, Eduard Strauss’ Clear the Track polka and, of course, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony 1 in G Minor, better known as Winter Daydreams.
-If you’re in the Rhein area, head to Cologne: the magnificent Dom church is the perfect backdrop for the Christmas market. The city’s Cologne Philharmonic is featuring a month full of festive holiday favorites, most notably a performance of Händel’s Messiah on December 12th. Soprano Camilla Tilling is the star of the show – and if you’re still working on your German, you’re in luck because the work will be performed in English!
On December 22nd, Christmas in Cologne takes on a decidedly Irish feel with an Irish Christmas concert at the Cologne Philharmonic Hall. The Irish Harp Orchestra and the Planxty O’Rourke Irish Dance Company will pull out bagpipes and fiddles to perform music and choreography from Ireland. And on Christmas Day, Dorothee Oberlinger and the Ensemble 1700 presents a truly traditional holiday treat with classic baroque pieces.
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