Stadium singing in the Heinz von Heiden Arena: 5000 people come together
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“O you happy”: 5000 people sing together in the Heinz-von-Heiden-Arena
Premiere in the Heinz-von-Heiden-Arena: For the first time, more than ten choirs and singing enthusiasts came together for a big stadium sing-along.
© Source: Nancy Heusel
Hanover. It’s icy cold, but that’s forgotten as soon as people stream into the stadium – the festive mood prevails. Under a starry night they meet to sing together to their heart’s content. On the program: the most beautiful and popular Christmas carols. And even before the singing in the stadium officially begins, the first sounds of Christmas can be heard from the stage. The Gospel Choir and Band from Pray Station create a festive atmosphere with songs like “Joy to the World” while all the flock find a seat. The atmosphere is relaxed, quickly familiar, people greet each other, talk and some even hum along.
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“Every year again”: The Christmas carols ring out from a thousand throats.
© Source: Nancy Heusel
For the first time, the big stadium singing with more than ten choirs takes place in the Heinz-von-Heiden-Arena. Around 5,000 people came to take part in Hanover’s largest Christmas choir. “Dortmund has it, Cologne has it for a long time, in Berlin it’s always sold out,” says moderator Christoph Dannowski from the Neue Presse at the opening, “Now Hanover finally has its big stadium singing.” And, as if to confirm, sounds from thousands of throats too the first song that reveals a wish: “Every year again”. That’s what everyone wants: This stadium singing should please come back every year.
14 of the most beautiful Christmas carols
And the next of the 14 most beautiful Christmas carols also arouse many emotions: “In der Weihnachtsbäckerei” is sung with a smile, “Kling, Glöckchen” is cheerful, it is carried with church songs such as “Vom Himmel hoch” or “Silent Night”. . With “Jingle Bells”, “Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer” and “Go, tell it to the mountains” – Christoph Dannowski’s favorite song, as he says – there are also three English Christmas carols. Little Lea, who came with her younger brother and her parents, quickly found her favourite: “I like the O-Tannenbaumlied so much – hopefully my dad will get ours soon too,” says the five-year-old with bright eyes.
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![Reverently: State Bishop and EKD Council President Margot Käßmann reads the Christmas story.](https://www.haz.de/resizer/2a3lLmigkSwhZV-olRpcRJpkAwY=/428x241/filters:quality(70):format(webp)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/madsack/AGMRLJRRRSRB2M2SCR2FWUKOIA.jpg)
Reverently: State Bishop and EKD Council President Margot Käßmann reads the Christmas story.
© Source: Nancy Heusel
And although there are so many people in the stadium, it is still reverent when the former regional bishop and EKD council chairwoman Margot Käßmann reads the Christmas story.
Hallelujah comes from the homeless choir
Another highlight is the performance of the homeless choir “ChorWerk”. The Leonhard Cohen song “Halleluja” was rewritten specifically for her situation. When the song is heard, many are deeply touched – applause with enthusiastic whistles and trampling is the reaction. The performance of the choir also expresses thanks to all participants in the stadium singing – because the proceeds from ticket sales and donations benefit the homeless aid and the HAZ Christmas aid.
![The Evangelical-Lutheran City Church Association and the Catholic Church in the Hanover region and their cooperation partners had invited to the stadium singing.](https://www.haz.de/resizer/kNjRxy0XITiDqWW2Hg5jTAPGm-E=/428x241/filters:quality(70):format(webp)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/madsack/NZ6LXAIGEHVJOV3M6NFKDHHWTQ.jpg)
The Evangelical-Lutheran City Church Association and the Catholic Church in the Hanover region and their cooperation partners had invited to the stadium singing.
© Source: Nancy Heusel
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The Evangelical-Lutheran City Church Association and the Catholic Church in the Hanover region and their cooperation partners had invited to the stadium singing. The Christmas carols close with “O you happy”. Even after it has long since faded away audibly, many of the guests carry it home with them inside – like Annemarie Meyer: “It was really nice – Christmas can come: Now I’m really in the mood!”