Christmas Moments

© Claudia Chauvin

My mother took me to see a Show on Saturday.
She had to write about it for the local newspaper.
It was called Christmas Moments and it was superb!
From a Jazz version of "Silent Night" to Pinks "Dear Mr President" the range was varied and very well performed.
Interludes by the "Christmas Spirits" (Alexander Grünberg) with thought provoking words left the audience quiet and deeply moved and at other times laughing so hard it brought tears to their eyes.

From the soulful voice (Meike Anlauff) to the jazzy Tenor (Oliver Rohles) and the strong, full voice of Beatrice Reece there was a very interesting mixture of performers. Simone Clemens and David Moore also left memorable impressions. Accompanied with great skill by Thomas Schwab and his Band it was a magical evening!

But it was in the end, that the "Chistmas Spirit" left us, moved into silence, with a deeply touching interpretation of Rolf Krenzer's poem "Wann fängt Weihnachten an":

© Claudia Chauvin

Wann fängt Weihnachten an?
Wann- ja wann?

Wenn der Schwache
dem Starken die Schwäche ergibt,
wenn der Starke die Kraft des Schwachen liebt,
wenn der Habewas mit dem Habenichts teilt,
wenn der Laute bei dem Stummen verweilt
und begreift was der Stumme ihm sagen will,
wenn das Leise laut wird und das Laute still,
wenn das Bedeutungsvolle bedeutungslos,
das scheinbar Unwichtige wichtig und groß,
wenn mitten im Dunkel ein winziges Licht
Geborgenheit, helles Leben verspricht,
und du zögerst nicht,
sondern du gehst so wie du bist drauf zu,

dann- ja dann fängt Weihnachten an!

Here is an approximate translation by me:

When, oh when begins Christmas?
When - Oh when?

When the weak forgive the strong their weaknesses
and the strong learns to love the strength in the weak
when the have-gots share with the have-nots
when the loud spends time with the mute
and understands what the mute means to say,
when the quiet becomes loud and the noisy hushed,
when important things become meaningless,
and the non relevant major and huge,
when in the dark a tiny light
promises life and shelter,
and you don't hesitate,
but walk towards it just as you are.
Then - oh then Christmas begins!