It is not uncommon to find discographic compilations in which one composer is at the centre of the selection of works. However, the fact that this edition focuses not on one composer but on a specific work in three different recordings is remarkable - and justifiable. At the centre is the studio recording of the 'Christvesper des Dresdner Kreuzchores' RMWV 7 from the Lukaskirche in Dresden (better suited for recordings than the Kreuzkirche) from 1993 under the direction of Gothart Stier. It is accompanied by the Eterna recording from 1964, also made in St Luke's Church, in which excerpts from the Christmas Vespers are heard under the direction of the composer and Kreuzkantor Rudolf Mauersberger. What is striking about this disc, which was very popular in the GDR, is the altered order of the individual pieces compared to the complete original work. The only audio and video document recorded in the Kreuzkirche is the MDR television recording from 2003, which gives an impression of the annual performances of the work in the designated church.

A secret society, a clandestine community, mythical rituals in dark temples. The image of the Freemasons is surrounded by the mystic mists of the unknown. When it comes to their music, one should by no means think of Hans Zimmer's epochmaking soundtracks to the Hollywood movies based on Dan Brown's novels! Vocal Concert Dresden has turned to the authentic music of Freemasonry. The exclusivity and selfimposed isolation of the movement fed the legend of the "Royal Art" that grew up about the fascinating mysteries of the Freemasons. What really took place in the inner confines of their temple remained hidden from view. The development of their mythical, symbolic use of formulae, objects and rituals went hand in hand with a cultivation of specific music. This album offers a whole programme of music that covers both overt and subliminal examples of musical pointers to the lodge brethren's symbols and values: threefold repetition for example will symbolise the three ranks of St John Masonry and the three ideals (wisdom, strength and beauty); pounding note repeats represent the masons' hammer blows, while the alternation between soloist and tutti represents the teacher-apprentice relationship between the individual ranks. Schiller's "Ode to Joy" won favour in more than 100 different settings and gained immortal status as the culmination of Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. The widespread view that it was commissioned as an original poem for the masons is simply untrue. Long before Beethoven took possession of the poem, a number of composers in Leipzig and Dresden had set the words to music. Four of those first settings laid the foundations for it's popularity and they are featured here on this album. Accompanied by a comprehensive booklet, this release by Vocal Concert Dresden under the direction of Peter Kopp aims to demonstrate the importance of music, not only to the freemason movement. Masonic music-making made a huge contribution to the development of middle-class and non-sacred music. Recorded in Dresden's "Institute of Freemasonry", a school building sponsored for more than 150 years by the movement, this album featuring numerous works never recorded until now offers a truly fascinating view into a world seldom seen or heard.

Today Peter Schreier is regarded as one of the outstanding tenors of the 20th century. His legendary 1975 recording "Peter Schreier singt Weihnachts-lieder" (Peter Schreier sings Christmas carols) was not only in almost every eastern German household but western German as well. The original master has now been extensively restored and is now available on CD for the first time.

The musical interests of Ludwig Guttler know no borders, but the festivity of Christmas in all it's magic is particularly close to Guttler's heart: "I want to bring a selection to the audience that does justice to the occasion and the wonderful music that was created for it," says Guttler about his motivation for the many Christmas editions he was part of in his career. The four best-selling Christmas albums of recent years are presented in this 4 CD Edition, with highlights of popular and heartwarming music for the most atmospheric time of the year

Maurice Steger, the virtuoso and world-renowned recorder player and conductor Conductor, has arranged works by Johann Sebastian Bach for recorder and orchestra for his new album with the La Cetra Basel has arranged works by Johann Sebastian Bach for recorder and orchestra.

Step into a world of musical elegance with this release featuring solo piano interpretations of the most famous compositions by J.S. Bach. This album is a celebration of Bach's genius, showcasing the intricate beauty and emotional power of his work through the expressive medium of solo piano. Performed by Tim Allhoff who has collaborated with an impressive array of musicians and ensembles, including Larry Grenadier, Jeff Ballard, Robbie Williams, Jules Buckley, Vision String Quartet, and many more, this collection promises to deliver a rich listening experience that bridges tradition and innovation. Each piece is thoughtfully crafted to highlight the depth and complexity of Bach's compositions, making them accessible and captivating for both seasoned listeners and newcomers alike.

The Christmas compilation 'Sind die Lichter angezundet' brings together the most beautiful and time-honoured treasures from the Eterna archive on two CDs. Available on CD for the first time ever, the album offers numerous recordings from the 1950s to the 1970s, with a focus on children's, youth and boys' choirs. The most beautiful and best-known Christmas melodies are contrasted with regional carols, rarely performed and recorded works and almost unknown gems - the perfect comprehensive and varied musical accompaniment to the Advent season and Christmas Eve.

Composer Helge Burggrabe presents his release entitled HAGIOS as an album for reverie and reflection. The musical spectrum of this collection of songs ranges from devout silence to powerful songs of jubilation. Memories of Romantic songs are often recalled when the Elbcanto vocal ensemble and the pianist Christoff Fankhauser sensitively immerse themselves in the compositions, some of which are in canon form. With a lightness that summons the music of the spheres, the musicians open up an imaginary space, a sonorous prayer that encourages pause for thought, reflection and participation. "My personal memories all lead back to the voice of my mother. The songs she sang me in the evenings when I went to bed, and as I fell asleep, gave me comfort and a sense of audible security," recalls Burggrabe. His HAGIOS song collection is meant to convey precisely that "audible security"; moments of personal devotion that are perceived as sacred and curative. With those childhood memories in mind, Burggrabe went in search of the secret power of song for his HAGIOS album. What he has found are melodies that in some cases are centuries old: monks of all faiths have always cloaked themselves in song in order to find peace and quiet. Consequently, for HAGIOS Burggrabe has arranged Gregorian chant alongside Taize hymns, as well as the eponymous Hagios ho Theos (Holy is God) from the Orthodox liturgy. Helge Burggrabe was born in Magstadt in 1973 and sang to his heart's content as a child. After studying in Hamburg, he quickly established himself throughout Europe as a composer of contemporary church music. He achieved his career breakthrough in 2006 with the oratorio to the Virgin Mary Stella Maris to mark the millennium celebrations for the cathedral at Chartres. His work Lux in Tenebris, a commissioned work to mark the 1200th anniversary of the diocese of Hildesheim, was premiered very recently.

Peter Schreier is one of the legendary tenors of the twentieth century. The foundation for his exceptional 60-year career is his intensive involvement with Protestant church music, whether as a boy alto of the Dresden Kreuzchor at a young age, or later as an outstanding evangelist. The music of Johann Sebastian Bach is the linchpin of his career. The tenor is accompanied by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra conducted by Erhard Mauersberger, Johann Sebastian Bach's 14th successor as cantor of the Thomaskirche in Leipzig. For the first time, this album is now released on CD.

Deluxe edition in lavish packaging and an extensive booklet lovingly furnished with full-color pictures, including complete vocal texts. This recording from 1974/1975, which was highly praised by the specialist press, unites outstanding soloists (Arleen Auger, Annelies Burmeister, Peter Schreier, Theo Adam, Michael Wittig) with the Dresdner Kreuzchor and the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra (first trumpeter is once again Ludwig Guttler). Under the direction of Martin Flamig, the ensemble reaches top form here. Radiant chorales, yet with great attention to detail, and powerful arias characterize the recording, which also leaves little to be desired in terms of recording technology. A well-balanced overall sound, clear weighting of vocal solos and orchestral accompaniment. The members of the orchestra deserve to be mentioned individually, as each instrument is excellently cast.

It is surely proof of great dedication that an American-born Swedish conductor would, in the mid-1970s, go behind the Iron Curtain in order to take up a post as principal conductor of an orchestra. Both the conductor and orchestra have fond memories of Herbert Blomstedt's Dresden years, from 1975 to 1985. The recordings of all of Beethoven's symphonies conducted by Blomstedt are proof of an intensive and artistically outstanding collaboration.

The novelty for this year's Christmas season sets new standards in brass music. With 'Brass Christmas', the well-known ensemble German Brass presents it's second Christmas album on Berlin Classics and demonstrates it's great strengths as a recipe for success: high virtuosity, brilliant musicality and a high degree of humour and charm. This is not classical brass music, but a completely new sound that enchants and delights the audience anew in every concert and recording. It is not without reason that the ensemble, consisting of ten solo brass players and university professors, was honoured with the Echo Klassik 2016 award. Brass Christmas includes the most beautiful melodies to prepare the listener for the Christmas season with a cosy, warm feeling. With tranquil sounds such as the Evening Blessing from Humperdinck's opera 'Hansel and Gretel', festive melodies from George Frideric Handel's Messiah and classical Christmas carols from Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio, German Brass creates a festive atmosphere in typical brass style. As always, the works are arranged by the ensemble's musicians themselves and convey the very own German Brass charm, presenting the original works with the utmost respect for the composers. This time, German Brass completely dispenses with an extended instrumentation and relies entirely on the possibilities of the brass ensemble.

When the voices of the Thomaner-chor sing a Christmas song in a cold winter's night, everyone knows that the best time of the year has begun. With the best that the catalogue of the choir of St. Thomas Leipzig has to offer for Christmas, this extensive edition fits exactly into the most contemplative time of the year.

The Goldmund Quartet, one of Germany's leading young string ensembles, is preparing a very special CD: String quartet versions of traditional Oktoberfest music?. Well-known polkas, marches and waltzes will be heard in a new guise. You can look forward to a musical homage to the Bavarian joie de vivre, in which the quartet captures the flair of the Munich Oktoberfest in fine string sounds.

Has it really been a full decade? Yes - this October, Dresden celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Frauenkirche's consecration. People still remember the "call from Dresden" in 1990, which was followed by various phases of reconstruction, which was largely financed by donations thanks to many helpers. The surviving stones were first carefully salvaged, sorted and then used in the subsequent construction work from 1996. As a result, the church, which had been destroyed in February 1945, was finally reconsecrated in 2005 and became a symbol of reconciliation and peace. Throughout this entire process, the trumpeter and ensemble leader Ludwig Guttler has rendered outstanding services to the Frauenkirche. With tireless motivation in the public sphere, through active participation in the concrete organizational implementation and, last but not least, through countless concerts in aid of the reconstruction, the famous Dresden native has played a very significant role in making this vision a reality. We took this anniversary as an opportunity to ask Ludwig Guttler to select pieces from his numerous recordings that have something to do with the Frauenkirche. He gladly complied and found works that have a connection to the history of music or that he often performed at this location - already during the shell construction, but of course also in the years after the consecration. Recordings from the Frauenkirche, some of them live, are of course also included. With it's beautiful and informative presentation, this CD is not only attractive for Guttler fans in the run-up to Christmas, but also makes a special gift.