Singing has a long tradition in the Gewandhaus. The Gewandhaus Choir is one of the oldest philharmonic choirs in Germany and has been closely linked to the work of the Gewandhaus Orchestra since its foundation in 1861. But the range of choirs has long since grown. Four choirs with a total of well over 200 singers now enrich the musical offering of the house, present their own repertoire that always surprises with innovative concert ideas, but can also be seen regularly together with the Gewandhaus Orchestra in the Grand Concert, in collaboration with the organ or the numerous instrumental ensembles of the house.

A highlight of the joint choir work is the annual Christmas concert in the Great Hall of the Gewandhaus. Together with musicians from the Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Gewandhaus organist, the Gewandhaus Children's Choir, the Gewandhaus Youth Choir and the Gewandhaus Choir put on a very special programme. Arrangements specially made for this unusual line-up are presented, but each choir also appears alone and with its own sound. This CD was inspired by these joint concerts, with which the choirs under the direction of Frank-Steffen Elster and Gregor Meyer want to bring this festive Christmas atmosphere from the Gewandhaus to the listeners at home. Works by George Dyson, Rudolf Mauersberger, Joseph Gabriel Rheinberger, Nils La Cour and Erhard Mauersberger are heard, as well as traditional pieces in arrangements by Gregor Meyer, Morten Schuldt-Jensen, Rudolf Mauersberger and Frank-Steffen Elster.