Peter Schreier Singt Weihnachtslieder

Peter Schreier & Thomanerchor Leipzig, Staatskapelle Dresden, Hans-Joachim Rotzsch

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 was extensively restored and will be released this year in a limited special edition with autograph card and booklet.

The most famous Christmas songs, the unmistakable timbre of Peter Schreier, one of the best orchestras and the world-famous Thomanerchor Leipzig make this album the perfect companion for Christmas Eve. With Kommet, ihr Hirten, Herbei, o ihr Gläubigen but also less known melodies such as Schlaf wohl, du Himmelsknabe du, the album will carry you off into just the right Christmas mood. Classics like O du fröhliche, Stille Nacht and Vom Himmel hoch complete the varied, festive programme.

Peter Schreier's career began as a boy alto in the Dresden Kreuzchor. After studying, he made his debut at the Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin in 1962 and in just under five years rose to become a singer of world importance. His David is unforgettable in von Karajan's Rheingold and Meistersinger for the Osterfestspiele Salzburg of 1973/74, as is his outstanding Lied interpretation. His musical companions on this Christmas album are the Dresden Staatskapelle and the Thoma-nerchor Leipzig in various combinations. The first been one of the best orchestras in the world for over 400 years and the second of whom is one of the oldest boys' choirs in the world, conducted for 27 years by Johann Sebastian Bach

O du fröhliche
Maria durch ein Dornwald ging
Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen
Vom Himmel hoch, da komm' ich her
Kommet, ihr Hirten
O Jesulein zart
Schlaf wohl, du Himmelsknabe du
Joseph, lieber Joseph mein
In dulci jubilo
Herbei, o ihr Gläubigen
Stille Nacht
Leise rieselt der Schnee
On Tannenbaum, du trägst ein' grünen Zweig
Auf dem Berge, da wehet der Wind
Lieb Nachtigall, wach auf
Kindelein zart
Still, still, still
Nun sei uns willkommen, Herre Christ
Vom Himmel hoch, o Englein kommt