Eric Whitacre

I’ve been invited to conduct the 2010 Christmas Concert with the Rundfunkchor Berlin (Berlin Radio Chorus). I can’t even begin to describe how excited and honored I am to be working with this legendary group.

The annual performance is in the spectacular Berliner Dom, which has a special meaning for me because we performed a bunch of my a cappella music and selections from Paradise Lost there in 2003. Here’s the outside of the cathedral at night:

And here’s an inside view of the organ and the dome:

As you can see, the place is massive. If memory serves, there must be a seven or eight second reverb tail in there.

The concert is mostly a cappella, with a few instruments if I want them. I’ll definitely do Lux Aurumque, maybe Nox Aurumque. I might do Sleep, and Sleep, My Child. Maybe hope, faith, life, love. I’ll definitely do some beautiful traditional things in German, like Stille Nacht and Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen (Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming). Mostly I want to create a soft, wintry, dreamy atmosphere, something warm and magical on a snowy Berlin night.

So does anyone have any suggestions? I’d love to hear your programming ideas, your favorite holiday/winter pieces. The concert is broadcast live to all of Germany, and I want to make it as special and beautiful as possible.