This recording of the capella vocalis Boys Choir is guaranteed to set the perfect Christmas holiday mood. The bell-like voices of the choir intone popular Christmas carols such as “Es ist ein Ros‘ entsprungen” and “Stille Nacht”. In addition to these timeless numbers are other heartwarming songs of the season as well as an enchanting selection of Polish Christmas carols.

Gerhard Oppitz is recognized as being one of the top pianists performing internationally today. His series of Schubert’s piano works, based on his long experience with the works, showcases his superior technical control, deep intellectual pervasion, and sweeping musical realization. This ninth installment includes dances, marches, and sonata fragments.

The Staatskapelle Dresden unquestionably belongs to the international elite of orchestras. Here, the outstanding wind soloists of this vaunted orchestra, together with the Munich-based pianist Margarita Höhenrieder, perform two special works from the Viennese classical repertoire: Mozart's Quintet for oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon and piano in E flat major, K. 452, and the Quintet in E flat major, Op. 16 by Beethoven. As a very special encore, oboist Bernd Schober has edited the beloved Andante from Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 for wind quintet and piano.

Much has been written about the contrasting Italian and French musical styles at the beginning of the 18th century, but Telemann was among the first composers who attempted to fuse these contrasting styles into an expressive, emotionally rich church music. The three cantatas featured on this recording are all festive works written by Telemann for performance variously during 1716/17 and 1720 church years, and exhibit the composer's ingenuity at adapting the Italianate style for use in the Lutheran church. The music is easy-going, tuneful with moments of virtuosity and characteristic tone painting.