Czech music is truly a world cultural treasure trove. Throughout Advent, concerts of Christmas music take place at a number of concert halls and festively decorated churches. There are so many to choose from, especially in Prague, which is a world cultural hotspot. Programmes differ immensely, but one thing remains the same every year – the whole of Prague and the Czech Republic come alive with the sound of yuletide music.
Christmas songs and carols
Advent songs and carols – some of these are hundreds of years old, yet they remain popular. Every choir has at least a few in its repertoire.
A few tips
The Loreta
The Baroque Loreta (www.loreta.cz), a popular place of pilgrimage in Prague, has a set of thirty bells which play traditional carols at Christmas time.
Christmas mass
Midnight mass is held on Christmas Eve (24. 12.) in almost every church.
A few tips
The Czech Christmas mass
Part of any Czech Christmas is the famous Christmas mass called „Hej mistře, vstaň bystře’ by the eminent Czech Baroque composer, Jakub Jan Ryba. The popularity of the piece is unprecedented, and every year it is performed at Christmas hundreds of times over across the entire Czech Republic. Don’t miss it!
Christmas concerts
Classical music
Christmas concerts at the festively bedecked State Opera in Prague (www.opera.cz) and other Advent concerts given by prominent orchestras and ensembles (Prague Symphony Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic, Moravian Philharmonic etc)
Church organ concerts
At the Basilica of St James (www.auditeorganum.cz) or the Church of St Simon and Judy (www.fok.cz)
The Prague Christmas music festival
An international festival of Advent and Christmas music called Prague Christmas (www.choirs.cz) takes place at several venues around the capital.
