Things to do

Get into the festive spirit with Christmas concerts and carols in one of the many churches

December is a delightful month for those who enjoy the sound of songs and carols, performed in that very special venue – the church. It is also a busy month, as the offers are abundant.

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By Bente D. Knudsen   Picture: Hisham Ammar

The tradition of concerts and Christmas carols performed in the realm of the church is strong in Denmark.

From the traditional classic Christmas concerts such as Händel’s Messiah and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio to Christmas carols, gospel songs and modern Christmas songs; the choice is large and varied.

A bit confusing is that some Christmas concerts are free while others require tickets at varying price ranges – even if they also take place in a church.

Finding free concerts can be trickier as many of the free ones are listed only in Danish on the churches’ sites, however, we have tried to find a selection for you to enjoy.

Find local ones in your area by checking the church website.

Not all of the concerts are in Danish only, many have a repertoire also of English songs.

The new COVID-19 restrictions make it mandatory for spectators to be seated if more than 50 people attend and if more than 100 people attend, they must present a valid corona pass.

At present, Your Danish Life has not found any of the events below to be cancelled as they all are seated events.

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Events in Copenhagen – here our best tips:

All of Copenhagen’s churches host a range of free events – both in December and January. They have organised information on all of them in their digital guide.

Even if in Danish – the concert guide organised by date is easy to follow.

With both a German, English and Swedish church in Copenhagen, it is worth checking out their offers for Christmas.

Join the International CBS Choir with students from more than 33 countries – who aim to lift the roof of the old Sankt Thomas Kirke on Frederiksberg with their international Christmas concert on 12 December at 16:00 – this concert is free and part of the Copenhagen Churches’ Christmas Concert 2021 program.

The English Church St. Albans offers several combined church services and carols on 12 at 16:00 and 13 December at 19:00, seats are on a first come first serve basis.

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Concerts that are more classical are performed in some of Copenhagen’s most beautiful churches.

For instance J.S.Bach’s Christmas Oratorio on 14 December by the Copenhagen Bach Choir at Holmens Kirke  interpreted and performed a.o by opera singer Leif Aruhn-Solén in this beautiful church.

Tickets can be bought at billetto.dk for DKK 175.

At Holmens Kirke, the ensemble, The Diabolus Choir, The DaCapo Choir and the Concord Brass band will perform an English Christmas Concert with a mixture of English and Danish songs and carols on 13 December, tickets can be purchased before online here.

Tickets for all events at Holmens Kirke can also usually be bought at the entrance  – up to one hour before the concert starts – subject to availability. Check before to see if they are sold out – both billetto and ticketmaster show sold out concerts on their sites when you look for tickets.

The University Choir Lille Muko also welcomes Christmas in Holmens Kirke with a Christmas concert with soprano Sofie Elkjær Jensen and tenor Magnus Vigilius, who will be accompanied by some of Denmark’s finest musicians on flutes, harp and organ.

They will perform a number of the most beloved Danish Christmas hymns and carols as well as other beautiful works interpreting the glad tidings of Christmas.

The audience will also get the chance to sing along on a couple of Christmas carols during the concert. Performance is 18 December at 14 and 17:00, as the concert sells out quickly buy tickets (DKK 200) in advance here.

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Københavns Domkirke is host to two Christmas concerts with Det Danske Drengekor on 10 December at 17:00 and 19:00,  proceeds are for benefit of an NGO for the homeless.

Tickets DKK 90 at billetten.dk, a beautiful event in Copenhagen’s main cathedral.

The choir will sing both international and Danish Christmas songs and carols.

The beautiful German Skt Petri Kirke in Copenhagen City center hosts a Christmas concert on the 11 December at 17:00 performing Saint-Saëns – Oratorio de Noël, Op. 12, Jonathan Sievers – O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf. Tickets at billetto.dk

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Also, the children’s gospel choir, Gospel Generation Mini, KIDS,NEXT & Extra performs a great upbeat concert at Nazaret Church on 15 December at 17:00 in Østerbro. Ryesgade, Østerbro. Tickets DKK 25 at the door in support of the choir’s next trip.

If you enjoy gospel songs then do not miss the Christmas Gospel Concert by Vesterbro Gospel Choir on the 11 December at 16:00 in Eliaskirken on Vesterbrogade.  Last time this concert was with an entrance fee of DKK 60 but this year there is no mention of an entrance fee.

In Frederiksholms Kirke, the local church choir, Sydhavns Kantori, with 35 singers, perform their Christmas concert the 11 December at 15:00 with both Danish, French and Austrian English Christmas songs and carols. Entrance fee DKK 50 to support the choir.

Or checkout the Bach Christmas oratorium in Trinitatis Church on 16, 17 and 19  December at 17:00 with the Concerto Copenhagen, ticket DKK 200 at billetto.dk

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At Trinitatis Church you can also enjoy more traditional Danish and English Christmas songs and carols on Friday 10 December at 16:30, the concert is free.

In Helligåndskirken in Copenhagen (Strøget) you can enjoy  Händels Messias on the 15 and 16 December at 19:00 with the Copenhagen Oratorio Choir, Copenhagen Oratorio Strings. Conductor Torsten Mariegaard. Solists: Signe Sneh Durholm (sopran0), Mathias Monrad Møller (tenor), Stephen Yeseta (kontratenor), Martin Hatlo (basbariton). Ticket DKK 235 at billetto.dk

TIP: Find concerts in Copenhagen through the guides on the site of Københavns Stift/The Copenhagen Parish here.

They have an excellent calender showing both traditional services as well as music events and concerts for each church in Copenhagen.

The Danish text can easily be translated with google translate.

Aarhus – Here our best tips for Aarhus

Christmas concerts will also take place in the churches Vor Frue Kirke, Sct. Pauls Kirke, Aarhus Domkirke, Sankt Lukas Kirke and Skt. Johannes Kirke, some events are free, others require tickets. On the churches’ own websites you can find dates and links for tickets.

Skt. Lukas Kirke in Aarhus is host to a Christmas concert with the band Guess What on 11 December at 15:00. And at Vor Frue Kirke, you can enjoy a Christmas concert with the Akademisk Kor on 20 December at 17:00 or at 20:00 ( tickets DKK 60).

In Aarhus Domkirke you can enjoy  several Christmas concerts as well as the cathedral’s own boy choir, the Skt Clemen’s Boy Choir’s Christmas concert on 20 December at 19:30. Tickets for this concert at clemensdrenge.dk

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A general web site listing paying Christmas concerts with famous Danish singers and performers can be found at here

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