The German television broadcasting company ZDF recently finished filming a holiday special with JK that will be shown on Christmas Eve. Of course, those of us living outside of Germany won't be able to watch it, but I'm hoping this program will be released on video for the 2021 holiday season. Filming took place at St. Nikolaus Church in Oberndorf, Austria, where Franz Gruber and Father Joseph Mohr composed "Stille Nacht" (Silent Night) early in the 19th century. JK also appears at the little "Stille Nacht" chapel and is also seen riding in an old-fashioned sleigh while he sings "Jingle Bells." Snow was even trucked in to the area from Obertauern to provide the requisite ambiance, and the tenor is accompanied by the guitarist Tobias Regner in the original version of "Stille Nacht," just as it was performed by Gruber and Mohr. Other performers include the Mayor of Oberndorf, Georg Djundja, who is evidently a talented organist, as well as the Salzburg Chamber Soloists, a children's choir from a local school, and the brass section from the Oberndorf community orchestra.
This actually reminds me of an old Christmas video by José Carreras that I have in VHS format. It was filmed in many of the same locations, and Carreras even sings "Jingle Bells" while riding through the deep snow in a horse-drawn sleigh. With any luck, we can look forward to JK's version next year.
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