The song that embraced the world
An atmospheric classical Christmas concert in which soprano Marit Kristine Risnes, cellist Olav Stener Olsen and Goedele Taveirne at the grand piano present traditional and well-known Christmas songs in an acoustic format. ‘Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht’ by Franz Gruber, the song that has embraced generations and continues to touch hearts around the world, originated on Christmas Eve in a village in Austria on Christmas Eve 1818, over 200 years ago. The organ in St. Nicolaus was out of order, and to create atmosphere during evening mass, organist Gruber composed a song that could be sung to a simple lute accompaniment. Thus, the world premiere of the world's most famous Christmas carol, Silent Night, took place on Christmas Eve in Oberndorf.
Marit Kristine Risnes, soprano
Olav Stener Olsen, cello
Goedele Taveirne, grand piano