How brightly the park at Grafenegg will shine once again this year in the splendour of the approaching festive season! And yet one star will be particularly bright on two evenings in December: Carolyn Sampson, the English soprano with timbre as clear as a bell. Mozart’s festal «Exsultate, jubilate» and Haydn’s aria «Ein’ Magd, ein’ Dienerin» are at the heart of this Christmas programme, framed by ballet music from two very different composers. Stravinsky described his «Pulcinella» Suite as a «look in the mirror» – a colourful one at that, for the ballet is pervaded by the spirit of the Commedia dell’arte. Tchaikovsky’s «Nutcracker» radiates the joyful mood of the Advent season and if you too fancy something sweet after the Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy, just use your concert ticket to visit the «Grafenegger Advent» Christmas fair!