At the request of Château de Versailles Spectacles, the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles choir Les Pages & les Chantres will again join the Gabrieli Consort & Players to perform Michael Praetorius’ resplendent Christmas Mass.

Michael Praetorius was the most prolific German compositeur of his generation. In the early 17th century he produced outstanding music, earning fame across northern Germany for his highly modern style and Italianate melodies. The score of this Christmas Mass draws on the Lutherian inclusive tradition whereby everyone plays an active role in the ceremony. It is thus cleverly designed with a role for a children’s or adult amateur choir, resulting in an extraordinary musical communion. With alternating grandiose passages and Italianate solo arias, Praetorius lavishly adorns the German and Latin texts. Paul McCreesh was commissioned by Château de Versailles Spectacles to perform a revival of his 1994 Chrismette production with the Gabrieli Consort & Players.  They are once again joined by the CMBV choir Les Pages & les Chantres, to give the performance an inclusive air of festivity and create a broad, resplendent fresque.