Many large-scale religious compositions are performed in a concert setting at Christmas. Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio (Weihnachts-Oratorium, BWV 248), written for Christmas 1734, describes the birth of Jesus, the annunciation to the shepherds, the adoration of the shepherds, the circumcision and naming of Jesus, the journey of the Magi, and the adoration of the Magi.[16] Peter Cornelius composed a cycle of six songs related to Christmas themes he called Weihnachtslieder. Setting his own poems for solo voice and piano, he alluded to older Christmas carols in the accompaniment of two of the songs.
Various notable composers have written instrumental works for Christmas, including Antonio Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto RV270 “Il Riposo per il Santissimo Natale” (“For the Most Holy Christmas”) and the Christmas Concerto (1690) by Arcangelo Corelli. Other classical works associated with Christmas include:
- Pastorale sur la naissance de N.S. Jésus-Christ (c. 1670) by Marc-Antoine Charpentier; Christus (1847)
- an unfinished oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn
- L’enfance du Christ (1853–54) by Hector Berlioz
- Oratorio de Noël (1858) by Camille Saint-Saëns
- The Nutcracker (1892) by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- Fantasia on Christmas Carols (1912) and Hodie (1954), both by Ralph Vaughan Williams
- A Ceremony of Carols (1942) by Benjamin Britten.
Informal Scratch Messiah performances involving public participation are very popular in the Christmas season. Performances of George Frideric Handel’s oratorio Messiah are a fixture of Christmas celebrations in some countries, and although it was originally written for performance at Easter, it covers aspects of the Biblical Christmas narrative. (by wikipedia)
And here´s a nice collection of classic Christmas compositions.
Personnel:
Bernhard, Hannes, Wolfgang Läubin, Norbert Schmitt, Simon Preston:
Bernhard Läubin (trumpet)
Hannes Läubin (trumpet)
Wolfgang Läubin (trumpet)
Simon Preston (organ)Timpani
Norbert Schmitt (timpani)
Luciano Pavarotti & The National Philharmonic Orchestra:
Luciano Pavarotti (vocals)
The National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Kurt Herbert Adler
Berliner Philharmoniker:
conducted by Herbert von Karajan
Wiener Sängerknaben:
conducted by Uwe Christian Harrer
Wiener Philharmoniker:
conducted by Claudio Abbado
Philharmonia Orchestra:
Bryn Terfel (vocals – Bass on 06.)
Kathleen Battle (vocals on 13.)
conducted by Paul Daniel (on 06.)
conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini (on 13.)
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra:
Edward Brewer (organ)
counducted by Guillermo Figueroa
London Symphony Orchestra:
Cheryl Studer (soprano vocals)
counducted by Ion Marin
Wiener Philharmoniker & Anne-Sophie Mutter:
Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin)
counducted by James Levine
José Carreras – Coral Salvé De Laredo – Sociedad Coral Debilbao:
José Carreras (vocals)
conducted by Damián Sanchez
The Monteverdi Choir & The English Baroque Soloists:
conducted by John Eliot Gardiner
Bryn Terfel & Malcolm Martineau:
Malcolm Martineau (piano)
Bryn Terfel (Baritone)
Dresdner Kreuzchor:
conducted by Matthias Jung
Choir Of St. Paul’s Cathedral & English Chamber Orchestra:
Kiri Te Kanawa (Soprano)
Thelma Owen (harp)
conducted by Barry Rose
Martha Argerich & Nicolas Economou:
Martha Argerich (piano)
Nicolas Economou (piano)
London Symphony Orchestra & Plácido Domingo:
Plácido Domingo (Tenor)
conducted by Karl-Heinz Loges
Jessye Norman, Daniel Barenboim, Wolfram Christ:
Daniel Barenboim (piano)
Wolfram Christ (viola)
Jessye Norman (Soprano)
The English Concert Choir & The English Concert:
conducted by Trevor Pinnock
Tracklist:
Bernhard, Hannes, Wolfgang Läubin, Norbert Schmitt, Simon Preston:
01. Sinfonies De Fanfare: Rondeau (Mouret) 1.58
Luciano Pavarotti & TheNational Philharmonic Orchestra:
02. O Holy Night (Minuit Chrétien) (Adam) 4.16
Berliner Philharmoniker:
03. March from The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky) 2.22
Wiener Sängerknaben:
04. O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum) (Traditional) 1.39
Wiener Philharmoniker:
05. The Sleighride (Die Schlittenfart) (Mozart) 2.33
Philharmonia Orchestra:
06. White Christmas (Berlin) 5.01
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra:
07. Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring (Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude (Bach) 3.26
London Symphony Orchestra:
08. Ave Maria (Gounod/Bach) 2.11
Wiener Philharmoniker & Anne-Sophie Mutter:
09. Méditation From Thais (Massenet) 6.43
José Carreras – Coral Salvé De Laredo – Sociedad Coral Debilbao:
10. The Nativity (Ramirez) 3.58
Bernhard, Hannes, Wolfgang Läubin, Norbert Schmitt, Simon Preston:
11. See, The Conquering Hero Comes (Händel) 3.02
The Monteverdi Choir & The English Baroque Soloists:
12. Jesy, Joy Of Man’s Desiring (Jesus bleibet meine Freude) (Bach) 2.31
Philharmonia Orchestra:
13. Pie Jesu From Requiem (Fauré) 4.06
Berliner Philharmoniker:
14. Christmas Concerto (Corelli) 3.52
Bryn Terfel & Malcolm Martineau:
15. The Three Kings (Die Könige) (Cornelius) 2.37
Dresdner Kreuzchor:
16. Silent Night (Stille Nacht) (Gruber/Mohr) 3.35
Choir Of St. Paul’s Cathedral & English Chamber Orchestra:
17. Ave Maria Op.52/6 D 839 (Schubert) 3.38
Martha Argerich & Nicolas Economou:
18. Dance Of The Reedpipes (Tchaikovsky) 2.12
London Symphony Orchestra & Plácido Domingo:
19. Muñequite Linda (Magic Is The Moonlight) (Grever) 3.50
Jessye Norman, Daniel Barenboim, Wolfram Christ:
20. Geistliches Wiegenlied Op. 91/2 (Brahms) 6.12
The English Concert Choir & The English Concert:
21. Hallelujah from Messiah (Händel) 3.58
ManyFantasticColors 