German and international songs, accompanied by readings that made people smile, were the focus of the christmas concert of the altenkunstadt choir association on saturday in the coarse dining room of the friedrich-baur senior citizens center sankt kunigund. The taste of the audience was also met by performances of young interpreters of the music school of the school association altenkunstadt/burgkunstadt/weismain.
An appreciative audience
In the residents of the home as well as the many guests and music lovers, the performers found an audience that was as open-minded as it was appreciative. "It would have been a great pleasure for us if we could give them a little christmas joy with our songs", explained the chairman of the singing club singgemeinschaft, georg pitteroff. The audience liked what the singers and instrumentalists performed for 80 minutes.
Familiar advent and christmas carols, known to the elderly from childhood, bring back fond memories. International contributions, modern rhythms and "musical balm for the soul" as well went straight into the ear. Conductor larissa eggloff not only prudently led the choir, she also accompanied the singing on the electric piano. Georg pitteroff led humorously through the program, which the singers started with the pre-christmas melody "we say to you dear advent" performed in an arrangement by heinrich rohr. The evening song "luleise gottes sohn", which originated in poland, was sung with great feeling and the spirited christmas call "zumba, zumba, hort das lauten".
The songs "the song of the angels" turned out to be musical delicacies and "ave glocklein. From the pen of J. D. Frieling sings the choral piece "ein stern stand am himmel". Ludwig van beethoven’s "hymn to the night" got under your skin. Also worthy of note was the modern spiritual "that you let me join in your jubilation, O lord", for which the organist and conductor otto bahr from the altenkunstadt suburb of maineck wrote the choral setting. The sangers gave an atmospheric interpretation of john barcley’s "christmas wishes", the english chorale "we wish you a merry christmas" and underlying.
For "instrumental touches of color" three piano students of the altenkunstadt music school, who are taught by larissa eggloff, took care of the audience. Attention to the six year old anna lipis. Without a trace of limelight fever, they played rolf zuckowski’s "in der weihnachtsbackerei" and the piece "little fir tree" from russia. To the surprise of the audience, the girl sang along – sometimes in german, sometimes in russian. Anna’s sister lena lipis thrilled with george nevada’s "fantasy in blue" and with daniel helbach’s piece "nostalgia. Selina nikolaus also mastered her performance with aplomb. She pleased with samples from the soundtrack of the french movie "the fabulous world of amelie" by yann tiersen and bravouros interpreted the song "last christmas" the british group wham, which has become a classic of popular christmas music.
Sepp and mrs. Maier
The audience listened attentively to the famous "ave maria", with larissa eggloff on the piano rounded off the musical evening. Sepp, the manager of the former post office in altenkunstadt, and mrs. Maier, who wanted to send her daughter a christmas package, told a funny story, which was told by chairman robert wilm of the lyra choir. In the candlelight of the christmas tree, choir members, piano students and the audience sang well-known christmas songs such as "alle jahre wieder" ("every year again") and "suber die glocken nie klingen" (the bells never ring so low). With the "O du frohliche" written in 1816 by johannes daniel falk, one of the best-known german christmas songs, the singers and instrumentalists drew the line under a concert that will be remembered by the audience for a long time to come.
"That was just great. My heart is really warm", caregiver sonja kraus from the social service swarmed. The thanks of the home residents were conveyed by home councilor ludwig grob. Chairman georg pitteroff was delighted with the warm applause from the audience. "Applause is the bread and butter of the artist. Already, that they have provided us with it well. That will last until our next concert here in your beautiful hall", he smiled.