At the centre is the colourful Christmas story of Heinrich Schütz, the grand master of the German early Baroque, who died 350 years ago. Trained in Venice, he brilliantly adapted the new Italian style to the German language. In his Weihnachtshistorie, everything is covered: the stable, the star, the angels, the shepherds and the Wise Men from the East.

In addition, the internationally renowned ensemble conducted by Lionel Meunier performs several German Christmas motets by Schütz and by his younger contemporary Andreas Hammerschmidt. The superb, eighteen-voice Magnificat by Johann Rosenmüller, who like Schütz was trained in Venice, is a masterpiece to finish this Christmas programme.