Vienna Media News 11/2011 Music during Advent

The Grosser Saal in the Konzerthaus will be the festive setting for Christmas in Vienna. At this gala concert, over 150 musicians from the Wiener Singakademie, the Vienna Boys' Choir and the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra present traditional Christmas pieces, and a quartet of soloists featuring Ramón Vargas will perform classic arias. The gala concludes with Handel's magnificent Hallelujah chorus. The Vienna International Advent Singing Festival at City Hall is a popular Christmas tradition. From November 25 to December 24, the neo-gothic edifice on the Ringstrasse plays host to choirs from all over Europe and the USA. Entrance to the concerts is free.

Advent concerts take place in St. Stephen's Cathedral in the heart of the city from the end of November onwards. Featuring a mix of chamber music, Advent songs, specially selected readings and performances by the Vienna Girls' Choir and soloists from the Wiener KammerOrchester, these special evenings never fail to get concertgoers in the Christmas spirit. The program includes pieces by Mozart, Schubert and Bach. And the Trompetenzauber series in St. Ann's Church, also in the historic old town, presents a range of music from classic Viennese pieces to international Christmas carols, all played on the trumpet.

• Christmas in Vienna, Dec 17, 2011, 19:30, Konzerthaus, Lothringerstrasse, 1030 Vienna, www.christmasinvienna.com, www.konzerthaus.at
• International Advent Singing, Nov 25-Dec 24, 2011, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, 15:30-19:00, City Hall, Rathausplatz, 1010 Vienna
• Advent Concerts at St. Stephen's Cathedral, Nov 25+ 27, Dec 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 + 18, 2011, 20:30, Sundays 22:00, Stephansplatz, 1010 Vienna, www.kunstkultur.com
• Trompetenzauber at St. Anna's church, Nov 25, 26 + 27, Dec 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 + 18, 2011, 19:30, Annagasse 3b, 1010 Vienna, www.kunstkultur.com