Rufus Beck presents the “Journey through Advent” – choral works by Schumann, Mozart, Weber and Mendelssohn will be performed in December
With two distinct concert programs, the Darmstadt Concert Choir sets the mood for Advent and Christmas in December. The season begins with the traditional "Walk Through Advent," featuring actor and audiobook narrator Rufus Beck as the narrator this year. On December 5th in Heidelberg and December 6th in Darmstadt, the ensemble will combine pre-Christmas choral music with reflective and lighthearted stories. A few weeks later, festive Christmas concerts will follow in Babenhausen and Darmstadt, featuring works by Robert Schumann, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Carl Maria von Weber, and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.
The overall musical direction is by Wolfgang Seeliger. Both concert series have been a regular part of the Darmstadt Concert Choir's program for many years.
Rufus Beck guides us through Advent
The "Walk Through Advent" traditionally takes place on the second weekend of Advent. The concert series has been a part of the region's pre-Christmas music scene since 1997.
This year, Rufus Beck takes on the role of narrator. The actor is known to a wide audience, among other things, for the film "Der bewegte Mann" (The Most Desired Man). He achieved particular fame as the narrator of the German-language "Harry Potter" audiobooks, in which he gave the numerous characters distinctive voices.
During the "Walk Through Advent," Beck will present reflective and lighthearted texts about Christmas and the Advent season. His stories will alternate with musical performances by the concert choir.
The first concert will take place on Saturday, December 5th, at 7 pm in St. Peter's Church in Heidelberg. On Sunday, December 6th, the program can be experienced at 5 pm in St. Paul's Church in Darmstadt.
Choral music, string quartet and organ
Musically, the "Walk Through Advent" offers a diverse mix of different timbres.
The Darmstadt Concert Choir presents both a cappella works and choral music with instrumental accompaniment. Interspersed throughout are performances by the Da Ponte String Quartet and organist Jan Wilke, who will add their own musical touches.
The alternation between spoken texts and music creates a program that offers space for both reflective and cheerful moments.
The overall direction will be taken over by Wolfgang Seeliger, who will also conduct the ensemble's other Christmas concerts.
Festive Christmas music from Schumann to Mendelssohn
A few weeks after the Advent concerts, the choir's second concert series follows. For more than 40 years, the Darmstadt Concert Choir has been performing festive Christmas concerts in the Protestant City Church of Babenhausen and in St. Paul's Church in Darmstadt.
This year's program features primarily works from the Romantic era, complemented by one of the most famous Mass settings from the Viennese Classical period.
The program begins with Robert Schumann's "Adventlied" op. 71 for soloists, mixed choir and orchestra.
This is followed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Coronation Mass" KV 317. The work is one of Mozart's most famous sacred compositions and is an important example of Viennese Classicism.
Carl Maria von Weber's Jubilee Mass for the 200th anniversary of his death
A special focus of the program is on Carl Maria von Weber's "Missa sancta No. 2", which is also known as the "Jubilee Mass".
Weber became famous primarily for his opera "Der Freischütz". Less well known is his extensive output of church music, which was closely linked to his work as Kapellmeister at the Dresden court.
This year's performance takes on additional historical significance: 2026 marks the 200th anniversary of Weber's death. The composer died in 1826.
With the “Jubilee Mass”, the concert choir presents a work that reveals another side of the important composer.
The Christmas program concludes with Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's choral cantata "From Heaven Above".
Christmas concerts in Babenhausen and Darmstadt
The two festive Christmas concerts will take place at traditional performance venues.
The program will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 19, 2026, in the Protestant City Church of Babenhausen. This concert on the eve of the fourth Sunday of Advent has been a part of the city's musical tradition for decades.
The performance will take place on the second day of Christmas, Saturday, December 26th, at 5 pm in the Pauluskirche Darmstadt.
In addition to the concert choir, renowned soloists and the Darmstadt Court Orchestra will perform. Wolfgang Seeliger will conduct.
Overview of concert dates
Saturday, December 5, 2026 – 7 p.m
A walk through Advent with Rufus Beck
St. Peter's Church, Heidelberg
Sunday, December 6, 2026 – 5 p.m
A walk through Advent with Rufus Beck
St. Paul's Church Darmstadt
Saturday, December 19, 2026 – 7:30 p.m
Festive Christmas music of the Romantic era
Evangelical City Church Babenhausen
Saturday, December 26, 2026 – 5 p.m
Festive Christmas music of the Romantic era
St. Paul's Church Darmstadt
Tickets and further information
Tickets for the concerts are available in advance. Ticket offers for the two Darmstadt performances can be viewed online.
Tickets for "Walk Through Advent" in Darmstadt:
https://www.ztix.de/konzertchor-darmstadt/events/gang-durch-den-advent-2026-darmstadt-dH6kpw
Tickets for the "Festive Christmas Concert" in Darmstadt:
https://www.ztix.de/konzertchor-darmstadt/events/festliches-weihnachtskonzert-darmstadt-6pAr3d
(DARMSTADT – RED/PM)
