Christmas Oratorio and anticipation of Bach's Mass in B minor

"Jauchzet, frohlocket": The Dresden Kreuzchor opened this year's Christmas concerts with Bach's "Christmas Oratorio" (Cantatas I-III). Together with the Elbe city's philharmonic orchestra, the work was performed in the packed Kreuzkirche on Friday evening to great applause.

Under the direction of Kreuzkantor Martin Lehmann, the concert also featured an ensemble of soloists including Griet de Geyter (soprano), Sophie Harmsen (alto), Patrick Grahl (tenor) and Andreas Wolf (bass). Wolf had to cancel the performances today and Sunday due to illness; Henryk Böhm is standing in for him.

Christmas vespers by the Kreuzchor on Christmas Eve are cult

The Kreuzchor's two legendary Christmas vespers follow in the afternoon hours of Christmas Eve, during which none of the more than 3,000 seats in Saxony's largest church building usually remain empty. The program with many well-known Christmas carols goes back to the former Kreuzkantor Rudolf Mauersberger (1889-1971), who directed the choir from 1930 to 1971.

The vespers - a church celebration lasting a good hour - have been celebrated here since 1371. Matins on Christmas Day is also a popular custom: people queue up early in the morning to experience the Crucians playing matins.

2025 a good year for the Dresden Kreuzchor

2025 is a good year for the more than 800-year-old Kreuzchor. Kreuzkantor Lehmann speaks of a "very enriching and successful year". A particular highlight was the world premiere of Sven Helbig's "Requiem A" in February in the sold-out Kreuzkirche, together with the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, René Pape and the composer.

The work has taken the choir as far as Vienna and London and kept the theme of 80 years since the end of the war present in various contexts, Lehmann told the German Press Agency.

Guest performances in German music capitals

"In addition, we added Bach's St. John Passion to the Crucians' repertoire during Holy Week, performed Mozart's Requiem and works by Arvo Pärt at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and Isarphilharmonie Munich and recently performed the Christmas Oratorio three times in front of a sold-out concert hall audience in Berlin," emphasized the Kreuzkantor.

In addition, there have been numerous encounters with youth orchestras and choirs: "We are therefore richly endowed with great trips, many musical highlights and important experiences for our singers."

Preparing for "Opus magnum": Bach's Mass in B minor

The alumni reunion also speaks for the great cohesion of the Crucians. More than 200 former Crucians came together with the active choir singers. "This cross-generational community once again impressively demonstrates the lasting impact of time spent in the Kreuzchor: Anyone who was once a Crucian will always remain one to some extent."

According to Martin Lehmann, the choir is already in rehearsals for the next highlight: Bach's Mass in B minor, which will be performed in February. "Of course, you don't just shake an opus magnum like the B minor Mass out of your sleeve as a boys' choir. The work requires meticulous preparation; after all, it is one of Johann Sebastian Bach's central choral symphonic works."

Crucians as "summiteers"

Preparing for the B minor Mass is comparable to that of a mountaineer on Mount Everest, says Lehmann. "It's not just about musical questions, but also about very practical considerations: For example, how can we integrate our new fourth class into individual titles? Which Kruzians will be changing their voices by then, and who will be returning to the choir?"

Rehearsals already began in the last school year. "The work was rehearsed from August to October, and from January we will concentrate on the few remaining blind spots."

Crucian choir currently has no worries about new talent

The crucian choir is not worried about new talent. "We took on 24 singers in the fourth class for the new school year. Demand was high, so we were in the fortunate position of being able to choose," revealed the Kreuzkantor.

He is also pleased with the musical ability of the boys. "We are delighted every day to see how our new recruits are developing socially and personally."