Celebrate Advent with Deutsche Grammophon
Discover one essential work each weekend until Christmas. Explore multiple different recordings of each work and be astonished how interpretation changes perception. Build your knowledge in Xmas repertoire or re-discover old favorites and first and foremost: enjoy!
This week’s featured work: Corelli’s Christmas Concerto
Our final feature this Christmas on Christmas repertoire is about our DG recordings of Arcangelo Corelli’s Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op.6, No. 8, better known as The Christmas Concerto, since it bears the inscription ‘Fatto per la notte di Natale’ (‘made for the night of Christmas’). It was probably written as part of the entire collection of Op. 6 in the 1680′s but not prepared for publication until 1714. They are among the finest and first examples of concerti grossi.
We present three different recordings of this concerto: a version by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, a version on period instruments conducted by Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert, and a version by Herbert Karajan with the Berliner Philharmoniker.
Concerto grosso in G Minor, Op. 6, No. 8, "Fatto per la Notte di Natale"
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio is among the most well-known pieces by the composer. Premiered in the winter 1734, it is structured as six cantatas, each intended for church performance on a feast day of the Christmas period. There are many notable recordings of the Oratorio; from our catalogue these include our most recent recording by John Eliot Gardiner from 2022 as well as his earlier recording from 1987, plus versions by Karl Richter, Hanns-Martin Schneidt and Fritz Lehmann (recorded as far back as 1955.)
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker
What would Christmas be without Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker? Unthinkable! Today on the 6th of December it is exactly 132 years since the Nutcracker ballet was performed for the first time at the Mariinsky Theater in Saint Petersburg. It was December 6, 1892, and ever since Christmas has not been the same.
Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Suite, op. 71a
“Messiah” by Georg Frederic Handel
Do you know this fun fact? The famous ‘Hallelujah’ is one of the most frequently performed pieces in music literature. In many places around the world, it is customary for the audience to stand up for this part of the performance – legend has it that when King George II first heard the chorus, he was so moved that he jumped to his feet, prompting everyone else to follow his example.
Explore Handel’s mighty “Messiah” below and: be moved!
Live Performance Videos on STAGE+
Each day until Christmas we will bring you a new, specially curated playlist. For different occasions and different moods, but with just one aim in mind: to bring you the best classical “soundtrack” for your “most wonderful time of the year”. Because: what would Christmas be without great music?
Advent Playlists
2024 – Year in Review
Enjoy some of the highlights of 2024. We’ve divided them into 4 categories: New Albums, New Signings, Discoveries and the Original Source Series. First up, new albums from our DG artists.
