Special concert for the first sunday in Advent
Program follows
During the Advent and Christmas days, the Residenz Soloists invite you to an evening of contemplative sounds in the Residenz's court chapel, where Mozart once played.
Enjoy a one-hour Christmas concert with pearls of classical music for the whole family.
It turns cold in the old court chapel in winter. Please dress warmly.
Master Concert in the Max-Joseph Hall with candlelight
Corelli: Christmas Concerto
Vivaldi: Flute Concerto “La notte”
Haydn: Concerto for Flute and Harp
Borne: "Carmen Fantasy" for Flute
Smetana: "The Moldau" (aus Má vlast)
Tchaikovsky: Highlights from "The Nutcracker" & “Swan Lake”
Offenbach: Can-Can & Barcarolle
Janine Schöllhorn - Flute, Emilie Jaulmes – Harp & Residenz Solisten
Arcangelo Corelli opens our journey into the Baroque world with his famous "Christmas Concerto." Written "for the night of the Nativity," it exudes a solemn tranquility. The highlight is the finale—a Pastorale whose swaying rhythms evoke images of shepherds in the fields. Antonio Vivaldi provides a thrilling contrast with his flute concerto "La Notte" (The Night). Here, we experience not a silent night, but one filled with ghosts and dreams. Vivaldi masterfully uses the flute to depict flickering shadows and nocturnal unrest—an early masterpiece of program music.
Classical balance returns with Joseph Haydn. His Concerto for Flute and Harp (often performed as an arrangement of the double concerto for flute and oboe) is a prime example of elegance. The harp lends the work a silvery shimmer that perfectly complements the flute's virtuosic lines. A very different kind of virtuosity awaits in François Borne’s "Carmen Fantasy"—a true firework display for the flute. Borne takes the passionate themes from Bizet’s opera Carmen and transforms them into a high-octane showpiece that demands everything from the soloist, from fateful motifs and the seductive Habanera to the fiery gypsy dance and the proud march of the toreros.
The full power of the orchestra unfolds in Bedřich Smetana’s "The Moldau." We follow the river from its two small springs—represented by two shimmering flutes—to its majestic flow through Prague. Smetana succeeded in capturing the soul of his Bohemian homeland, even though the main theme is actually based on an old Swedish folk song he encountered during his time in Gothenburg.
A fairytale highlight is set by the selections from Peter Tchaikovsky’s ballets. Whether it is the majestic entrance of the swan knight in "Swan Lake" or the enchanting character dances from "The Nutcracker," Tchaikovsky was the undisputed magician of melody. Finally, Jacques Offenbach provides a rousing conclusion. While the "Barcarolle" from The Tales of Hoffmann gently rocks us in a Venetian gondola, the famous "Can-Can" from Orpheus in the Underworld will inevitably pull you from your seats. Originally intended as a satire of Parisian society, this wild dance became the ultimate symbol of French joie de vivre.
Master Concert
Mendelssohn: Violinkonzert E-Moll
Grieg: Peer Gynt – Suite
Corelli: Weihnachtskonzert
Händel: Concerto grosso
Pachelbel: Kanon
Residenz-Solisten
An Evening from a Bygone Era
In the Max-Joseph-Saal, one of the most magnificent rooms in the Munich Residenz, music and atmosphere come together to create an extraordinary experience. Beneath glittering royal chandeliers and candlelight, and enhanced by the superb acoustics of this historic hall, you will experience masterpieces that have touched audiences for centuries.
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor
Virtuosic, passionate and filled with Romantic poetry, Mendelssohn’s celebrated Violin Concerto is one of the most beloved works in the concert repertoire. From its intimate lyrical melodies to its exhilarating finale, it unfolds with remarkable emotional power.
Grieg: Peer Gynt – Suite
Nordic landscapes, enchanting moods and unforgettable melodies: Grieg’s Peer Gynt transports you into a fascinating world of Morning Mood, mysterious trolls and romantic poetry.
Corelli: Christmas Concerto
Christmas could hardly sound more festive. Corelli’s celebrated Christmas Concerto combines Italian elegance with warm, radiant sonorities and is one of the most beautiful musical invitations to the Christmas season.
Handel: Concerto Grosso
Baroque splendour at its finest: Handel’s Concerto Grosso captivates with festive brilliance, virtuoso musical dialogues and the majestic elegance that continues to make his music so compelling today.
Pachelbel: Canon
A moment to pause and savour: Pachelbel’s famous Canon gradually unfolds its simple yet deeply moving beauty – a sound filled with harmony, warmth and timeless elegance.
A festive concert evening for everyone who wishes not merely to hear great music, but to experience it in an exceptional and unforgettable setting.
Master Concert
Vivaldi: „Die vier Jahreszeiten“ – gesamt
Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik
Corelli: Weihnachtskonzert
Händel: Concerto grosso
Pachelbel: Kanon
Simon Zhu - Violine & Residenz-Solisten
The best things come in small packages: With wonderful stucco works and crystal, chandeliers equipped Max's Joseph hall is for many a small pearl in the residence and forms the perfect frame for classical concerts. Just chamber music friends estimate the intimate character of the space.
Special concert for the second sunday in Advent
Program follows
During the Advent and Christmas days, the Residenz Soloists invite you to an evening of contemplative sounds in the Residenz's court chapel, where Mozart once played.
Enjoy a one-hour Christmas concert with pearls of classical music for the whole family.
It turns cold in the old court chapel in winter. Please dress warmly.
Festive concert
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
Vivaldi: "The Four Seasons": "Autumn" and "Winter"
Residenz-Solisten
Then begins a work that rises in music history like a vast mountain range: Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.
At first, the sound seems to emerge from nothingness. Mysterious, vibrating tones begin to gather, gradually taking shape – until suddenly the symphony stands before us: monumental, radiant and profoundly human.
In the Scherzo, an irresistible rhythmic force erupts. Sharply accented and driven with breathtaking precision, the music pulses with defiant vitality, as though life itself were stamping out the rhythm. The third movement opens a wide, singing expanse of sound – intimate, sustained and of touching tenderness.
In the finale, the unprecedented occurs. Beethoven searches, touching upon fragments of the previous movements – only to cast them aside. Then a new melody emerges, softly and simply, almost like a folk song: the theme of the “Ode to Joy.” Rising from the depths of the bass, it gathers strength and unfolds into a triumphant vision. In this moment, Beethoven shatters the boundaries of the symphony.
Friedrich Schiller’s vision of brotherhood becomes sound:
“Joy, bright spark of divinity.”
What resounds here is more than music – it is a call to freedom, fraternity and hope.
The Ninth does not end quietly.
It ends like a sunrise in blazing D major – overwhelming, jubilant, as if Beethoven had wrested a promise from the world itself.
A century earlier, Antonio Vivaldi had already demonstrated how evocative music could be with his cycle "The Four Seasons," though he focused more on nature than on philosophy. In "Autumn," the "Red Priest" first has the violins strike up a dance before imitating the exhaustion of revelers after the harvest with gentle, almost floating melodies—a musical intoxication that subsides into a deep sleep. "Winter," by contrast, makes the listener shiver: through sharp staccato and tremolo strings, the chattering of teeth in the cold is imitated with deceptive realism, while the famous Largo describes the cozy warmth of a heated room as the rain taps softly against the window outside. Vivaldi was so convinced of the narrative power of his music that he accompanied his scores with explanatory sonnets, ensuring every musician knew exactly whether they were portraying a hunting dog or a wanderer slipping on the ice.
Master Concert
Vivaldi: „Die vier Jahreszeiten“ – gesamt
Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik
Corelli: Weihnachtskonzert
Händel: Concerto grosso
Pachelbel: Kanon
Residenz-Solisten
A Musical Winter Evening Filled with Splendour
Vivaldi’s vivid “Four Seasons”, Mozart’s effortless elegance and the festive sounds of Corelli, Handel and Pachelbel come together in a concert evening filled with virtuosity, warmth and the magic of the Christmas season.
In the magnificent Max-Joseph-Saal, beneath glittering royal chandeliers and surrounded by candlelight, this becomes an experience of rare beauty: great music in an exquisite setting where the magic of Christmas seems to glow with a life of its own.
Vivaldi: “The Four Seasons”
Few works bring nature to life with such immediacy and vivid colour as Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons.” Across the four violin concertos unfolds a fascinating panorama of birdsong and spring breezes, summer heat and approaching thunderstorms, the joy of the harvest and the quiet stillness of winter.
Virtuosic passages, radiant colours and unforgettable melodies make this masterpiece an ever-fresh experience – alive with movement, poetry and the unmistakable spirit of Italy.
Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik
With its graceful elegance and crystalline clarity, Mozart’s “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” is one of those rare works that enchants from the very first note. Light-footed, charming and seemingly effortless in its perfection, it creates an atmosphere of refined sociability and classical sophistication.
A timeless Mozart moment – full of lightness, charm and joie de vivre.
Corelli: Christmas Concerto
With Corelli’s Christmas Concerto, the special atmosphere of Advent takes centre stage. Warm string sonorities, delicate melodic lines and festive elegance combine to create music of intimate beauty.
Traditionally associated with the Christmas season, this beloved work evokes the quiet anticipation and warmth that make Advent so enchanting – festive, graceful and deeply atmospheric.
Handel: Concerto Grosso
Handel’s Concerto Grosso embodies the splendour of the Baroque at its finest. In the lively interplay between soloists and ensemble, a captivating musical dialogue unfolds, filled with virtuosity and festive brilliance.
Elegant melodic lines, powerful accents and Handel’s unmistakable grandeur give the work a majestic presence – music that reveals its full magnificence in a setting of such splendour.
Pachelbel: Canon
Pachelbel’s Canon touches the heart through its simplicity and timeless beauty. Above its gently unfolding harmonic foundation, the melody gradually blossoms, building layer by layer into a warm and almost weightless tapestry of sound.
Timelessly elegant and deeply moving, the Canon offers a moment of quiet reflection – bringing the concert evening to a serene and beautiful close.
Classical music in the museum
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons – “Autumn” & “Winter”
Grieg: Peer Gynt – Suite
Pachelbel: Canon
Tchaikovsky: Highlights from The Nutcracker & Swan Lake
Residence-Soloists
Concert Program – From Baroque to Romantic
The Four Seasons – Autumn & Winter – Antonio Vivaldi
Vivaldi’s vivid violin concertos depict the colors and moods of the seasons. In Autumn and Winter, the composer contrasts festive dances, rustic celebrations, and the chill of icy landscapes with virtuosic passages and dynamic orchestral interplay.
Peer Gynt Suite – Edvard Grieg
Grieg’s suite from Henrik Ibsen’s play captures Norwegian landscapes, folk-inspired melodies, and dramatic storytelling. From the lyrical Morning Mood to the lively In the Hall of the Mountain King, the music blends poetic lyricism with rhythmic vitality.
Canon in D – Johann Pachelbel
One of the most famous Baroque pieces, Pachelbel’s canon features three violins in imitative dialogue over a repeating bass line. Its serene harmonies and elegant structure make it a timeless favorite.
Highlights from The Nutcracker & Swan Lake – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky’s ballet music brings magical storytelling to life, from the sparkling Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy to the dramatic and lyrical passages of Swan Lake. The orchestration combines brilliant color, rhythmic drive, and memorable melodies, making these works enduring classics of the Romantic repertoire.
Special concert for the third sunday in Advent
Corelli: Pastorale aus dem Concerto grosso
Bach: „Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme“
Vivaldi: Harfenkonzert D-Dur: Allegro giusto-Largo-Allegro
Mozart: Andante C-Dur
Saint-Saёns: Auszüge aus dem Weihnachtsoratorium op. 12
Tschaikowski: Highlights
Residenz-Solisten: Janine Schöllhorn - Flöte, Emilie Jaulmes - Harfe & Matthias Nassauer - Trombone
During the Advent and Christmas days, the Residenz Soloists invite you to an evening of contemplative sounds in the Residenz's court chapel, where Mozart once played.
Enjoy a one-hour Christmas concert with pearls of classical music for the whole family.
It turns cold in the old court chapel in winter. Please dress warmly.
Master Concert in the Max-Joseph Hall with candlelight
Vivaldi: Die vier Jahreszeiten “Herbst” & “Winter”
Mozart: Violinkonzert G-Dur - Allegro
Grieg: Peer Gynt – Suite
Corelli: Weihnachtskonzert
Pachelbel: Kanon
Tschaikowski: Highlights aus “Nussknacker” & “Schwanensee”
Residenz-Solisten
An Evening of Winter Magic
From Vivaldi’s evocative “Autumn & Winter” through Mozart and Grieg to Corelli’s Christmas Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s enchanting ballet worlds, this programme brings together beloved masterpieces in an evening filled with warmth, virtuosity and winter magic.
In the magnificent Max-Joseph-Saal, beneath glittering royal chandeliers and surrounded by candlelight, the music becomes an experience of exceptional atmosphere – classical masterpieces in a royal setting, capturing the magic of the winter season in sound and light.
Vivaldi: “The Four Seasons” – Autumn & Winter
With Vivaldi’s “Autumn” and “Winter”, the changing seasons come vividly to life. “Autumn” evokes harvest celebrations, dancing and the joy of abundance, while “Winter” conjures icy landscapes, swirling snowstorms and moments of intimate warmth. Virtuosic writing and vivid musical imagery make Vivaldi’s masterpiece an ever-fascinating portrait of nature.
Mozart: Violin Concerto in G major – Allegro
Mozart’s Allegro from the Violin Concerto in G major captivates with graceful elegance, effortless lightness and the refined beauty of the Classical style. The virtuosic violin engages in a sparkling dialogue with the orchestra, creating music filled with charm, brilliance and joie de vivre.
Grieg: Peer Gynt – Suite
A journey into a poetic Nordic soundscape: Grieg’s “Peer Gynt” combines enchanting moods with unforgettable melodies. Gentle morning light, mysterious landscapes and dramatic episodes unfold like scenes from a musical fairy tale – atmospheric, richly coloured and filled with Nordic poetry.
Corelli: Christmas Concerto
With Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto”, the festive season begins. Warm strings, delicate melodic lines and refined Baroque elegance combine to create music of intimate beauty. The work carries the quiet anticipation of Advent and brings a wonderful warmth and festive glow to the evening.
Pachelbel: Canon
Pachelbel’s Canon unfolds its beauty with remarkable serenity and timeless elegance. Above its gently flowing harmonic foundation, the melody gradually blossoms, creating a warm and almost weightless tapestry of sound. A moment of stillness and reflection – filled with harmony, warmth and emotional depth.
Tchaikovsky: Highlights from “The Nutcracker” & “Swan Lake”
For the grand finale, the enchanting world of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky comes alive. The most beautiful melodies from “The Nutcracker” and “Swan Lake” transport you into a world of sparkling enchantment, romantic longing and graceful dance.
From the famous Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy to the unforgettable melodies of Swan Lake, the music builds to a radiant finale – full of poetry, emotion and festive splendour.
