1724day.year
J. S. Bach leads the first performance of Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BWV 91, in Leipzig, based on Luther's 1524 Christmas hymn.
J.S. Bach conducted the premiere of his cantata Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BWV 91 in Leipzig.
On December 25, 1724, Johann Sebastian Bach led the first performance of his cantata 'Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ' in Leipzig.
The work is based on Martin Luther's 1524 Christmas hymn.
Bach wrote the composition for the Christmas Day service at the Thomaskirche.
The cantata features festive chorales and instrumental choruses celebrating the birth of Christ.
It remains a cherished example of Baroque sacred music.
1724
J. S. Bach
Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BWV 91
Leipzig
Christmas hymn
1815day.year
The Handel and Haydn Society, oldest continually performing arts organization in the United States, gives its first performance.
The Handel and Haydn Society gave its inaugural concert, beginning the longest-running arts organization in the U.S.
On December 25, 1815, the Handel and Haydn Society presented its first performance in Boston, Massachusetts.
Founded in 1815, the society focused on choral works by George Frideric Handel and Joseph Haydn.
It remains the oldest continuously performing arts organization in the United States.
The debut concert featured select oratorio movements, delighting early 19th-century audiences.
Over two centuries later, the society continues to champion choral and orchestral repertoire.
1815
Handel and Haydn Society
1870day.year
Wagner's Siegfried Idyll is first performed.
Richard Wagner’s intimate orchestral piece 'Siegfried Idyll' premiered on December 25, 1870, as a birthday gift to his wife Cosima.
Composed in 1870 as a private serenade, 'Siegfried Idyll' was first performed by a small chamber orchestra on the stairs of Villa Tribschen in Lucerne.
Wagner wrote the piece in secret to celebrate the first birthday of his son, Siegfried, and to honor his wife, Cosima.
The delicate, lyrical themes weave together motifs from his opera 'Siegfried,' showcasing Wagner’s mastery of orchestral color.
Initially played by thirteen musicians at dawn on Christmas morning, the work symbolized love, renewal, and artistic intimacy.
After its private debut, Wagner expanded the orchestration for public performance, where it gained acclaim as a masterpiece of Romantic music.
Today, 'Siegfried Idyll' remains cherished for its tender melodies and personal backstory, offering a rare glimpse into Wagner’s private world.
1870
Wagner
Siegfried Idyll
1950day.year
The Stone of Scone, traditional coronation stone of British monarchs, is taken from Westminster Abbey by Scottish nationalist students. It later turns up in Scotland on April 11, 1951.
On December 25, 1950, Scottish nationalist students removed the historic Stone of Scone from Westminster Abbey in a bold act of political symbolism.
The Stone of Scone, long used in the coronation ceremonies of British monarchs, was seized by four students from Glasgow University. Their aim was to draw attention to Scottish heritage and aspirations for self-governance. The heist captivated the British public and fueled discussions about Scotland's identity within the United Kingdom. Despite intensive searches, the stone remained hidden until it mysteriously resurfaced in Arbroath Abbey on April 11, 1951. This daring cultural protest remains an emblematic moment in Scotland's modern nationalist movement.
1950
Stone of Scone
British monarchs
is taken from Westminster Abbey
Scottish nationalist
April 11