Truly Festive Vibes

Winter Tunes

A huge highlight on the December-Christmas schedule is, of course, Poznań Carol Singing - the Christmas Music Festival. Now in its eighteenth edition, it kicks off on 19th December and carries on until 18th January. Across the festival, you can catch twenty free concerts featuring performers such as the Poznań Boys' Choir, the Nightingales Girls' Choir, the Poznań Cathedral Choir, the Choir and Orchestra of Poznań's Music Schools, Affabre Concinui, the Affectus Vocal Ensemble, and the Volantes Soni Choir of the Poznań University of Technology. The organisers shine a spotlight on performances from Gdańsk's vocal ensemble Art'n'Voices (19th Dec., University of Economics auditorium), Audiofeels (11th Jan., St Michael's Church), and the Maritime University Choir from Szczecin conducted by Sylwia Fabiańczyk-Makuch (17th Jan., Poznań Parish (Fara) Church).

Also in the programme is the Christmas Harmony concert (7th Dec., Karłowicz Secondary Music School II), which premiered at Warsaw's Roma Theatre in 2024. On 11th December, at the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Lee Mays will perform the greatest Christmas hits of the 20th century in the show Christmas Jazz from New York. There is also Kombii's White Christmas on 22nd December, and on 14th December, the Magic Christmas Concert will bring together Kasia Moś, Kasia Cerekwicka, Ewelina Lisowska, Mietek Szcześniak, and Staszek Plewniak. Then, on 28th December, TGD will appear with Natalia Kukulska and Mateusz Ziółko for Carols of the World, all staged in the Earth Hall.

On 7th December, the Musical Theatre presents Christmas Rock. The organisers describe it as "not just a concert - it's an emotional, festive experience for the entire family. Candlelight, the scent of pine, guitar riffs, and melodies we all recognise... just never quite like this." On 8th December, Grupa Mocarta will give a family-friendly performance at the Grand Theatre (5.30pm and 8pm). The preview promises: "Santa Claus and his Snow Maiden will appear, accompanied by a wandering traveller who adds a touch of surprise. Together, we'll sing carols and pastorals, while the Christmas Star sends warm wishes."

The Skowronki Girls' Choir will perform at the Castle Cultural Centre, with their Christmas concert taking place on 20th December in the Main Hall. The acclaimed Mazowsze ensemble, boasting 75 years of history, presents Mazowsze Christmas on 21st December at the Adam Mickiewicz University auditorium. "Carols and pastorals sung by soloists, choir, and orchestra are among the most exquisite traditional interpretations. They capture the unmistakable atmosphere of a Polish Christmas, with the white tablecloth, Christmas tree, and the sharing of the wafer. In an age dominated by White Christmas and Jingle Bells, it is increasingly rare to hear traditional Polish carols set to the mazurka, oberek, or polonaise," notes the event description. Also at the AMU auditorium, on 17th December, there will be a concert featuring Sinatra's winter classics.

Christmas with Theatre

This year's mix of off-repertoire productions includes some true highlights: the globally adored ballet The Nutcracker performed by the Royal Classical Ballet (3rd and 16th Dec., Aula Artis); A Christmas Carol from Tetiana Galitsyna's Sand Theatre at Aula Artis, and multiple ice spectacles in the Earth Hall: The Nutcracker, The Lord of Darkness, and Alice in Wonderland. For younger audiences, Theatre Atofri will perform the concert Fall Asleep for Me at the Archaeological Museum on 7th December, while Theatre Blum will bring The Christmas Box at Concordia Design on 20th December. At the Grand Theatre, audiences can enjoy The Snow Queen and a range of carol concerts.

There are as many attractions as baubles on a Christmas tree!

Monika Nawrocka-Leśnik 

translation: Krzysztof Kotkowski

© Wydawnictwo Miejskie Posnania 2025