John Eliot Gardiner celebrates the Christmas period with works by two giants of European sacred music : Johann Sebastian Bach and Marc-Antoine Charpentier. Traditional French noëls – secular arias banned from sacred music by the Council of Trent – form the basis of the Midnight Mass that Charpentier composed around 1690. In the same vein, an irresistible rendition of laughter in music opens one of Bach’s most festive cantatas : Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, written for Christmas Day 1725 in Leipzig. Schwingt freudig euch empor, composed for the first Sunday of Advent in 1731, awaits the birth of Christ with dancing choruses and one of Bach’s most intimate and touching arias, Auch mit gedämpf ten, schwachen Stimmen. Drawing on his passion for both French music and the works of Bach, Gardiner paints a colourful Baroque portrait of the Nativity celebrations.

First part : 50 minutes

Intermission

Second part : 30 minutes

PRESTIGE VIP CATEGORY: Best seats in house with complimentary glass of champagne and programme.

PRESTIGE CATEGORY: Excellent seats with complimentary glass of champagne and programme.

REDUCED RATE: applicable to under 26s, Chateau de Versailles Spectacles card holders and groups of more than 10 people (excluding special company offer).

GROUP RATES: for more information, please refer to our page dedicated to works councils and groups.

In case of any technical problem, the box office service remains available to complete your order by phone at +33 (0)1 30 83 78 89 (Monday-Friday from 11am to 6pm) or in our box office-shop (3 bis rue des Réservoirs, 78000 Versailles ; Monday-Friday from 11am to 6pm, and on Saturdays with concerts or shows except during the Musical Fountains Shows, from 2pm to 5pm).

To ensure the best welcome possible, people with limited mobility are advised to book their seats by telephone.