Schwabischer Mannerchor special evening
Production on “Our German Story” was kicked off Dec. 16 th with the velvet voices of the Schwaben Male Chorus at their 72nd annual Christmas concert, under the direction of Mr. Erwin Aufdemberge at the Warren Consolidated Schools Performing Arts Center in Sterling Heights.

As Jim Fitch, president of the chorus so aptly points out, “Today’s lifestyle has become so hectic and faced paced, this should be the time of year to stop and appreciate all the life values around you…”

Traditional German Christmas tunes like Tochter Zion and Weihnacht Wirds Nun Weider were dark and rich with harmony, and Oh Tannebaum, with soloists Jim Schwark and Chris Steudle aced one of the most beautiful melodies ever written. The transposition of notes and chords in the sections final piece, The First Noel and Pachelbel’s Canon, was amazing.

Soloist Monique Bates and Judy Zorn, with voices like crystal, led off the second section with Gesu Bambino, an Italian carol, but quickly returned to Germanic roots with the Evening Prayer from Hansel und Gretel. The third section included Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprugen, accompanied by the Brass Ensemble, the traditionally Southern U.S.A. sounding Whisper! Whisper! and O Holy Night, followed by rousing applause.

At the conclusion of the show, children from the audience gathered on stage for their Christmas moment, a sing-a-long, which we all agree is among the season’s greatest joy.

An afterglow at the Carpathia club was filled with dancing, beer drinking and a marvelous selection of German specialties, which concluded the evening with a grand and resounding Fröhliche Weihnachten!, Frohe Weihnachten!