Christmas 2025 with a big celebration.
This year's Christmas will take place in a unique atmosphere for the Bratislava Boys' Choir. Together with the Slovak Philharmonic, we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of our valuable collaboration in creating Christmas concerts.
The first performance of the Bratislava Boys' Choir at the Christmas concert of the Slovak Philharmonic dates back to 1995. "For me, it was like reaching Olympus. To come and bow alongside masters Ondrej Lenárd and Peter Dvorský, I couldn't imagine anything more," recalls the choir's conductor, Magdaléna Rovňáková.
The idea to create a joint Christmas concert came from the then chief conductor and music director of the Slovak Philharmonic, Ondrej Lenárd. He recalls that he brought the sheet music and materials for the orchestra from Japan. In addition, he arranged Slovak carols, which he considers to be among the most beautiful in the world. "I simply still have these boys in my eyes, their smiles, their little eyes are laughing. I can't name it any other way, just joy, that you look at them, they don't even have to open their little mouths yet. But when they start singing, that is a true sound. I would just wish for them to do very well because they have a foundation, they have excellent leadership. Truly, a huge 'hats off' to what Ms. Rovňáková and Gabo Rovňák are doing; I highly value it and think it is a tremendous contribution to Slovak musical culture."
The first performance of the Bratislava Boys' Choir at the Christmas concert of the Slovak Philharmonic dates back to 1995. "For me, it was like reaching Olympus. To come and bow alongside masters Ondrej Lenárd and Peter Dvorský, I couldn't imagine anything more," recalls the choir's conductor, Magdaléna Rovňáková.
The idea to create a joint Christmas concert came from the then chief conductor and music director of the Slovak Philharmonic, Ondrej Lenárd. He recalls that he brought the sheet music and materials for the orchestra from Japan. In addition, he arranged Slovak carols, which he considers to be among the most beautiful in the world. "I simply still have these boys in my eyes, their smiles, their little eyes are laughing. I can't name it any other way, just joy, that you look at them, they don't even have to open their little mouths yet. But when they start singing, that is a true sound. I would just wish for them to do very well because they have a foundation, they have excellent leadership. Truly, a huge 'hats off' to what Ms. Rovňáková and Gabo Rovňák are doing; I highly value it and think it is a tremendous contribution to Slovak musical culture."
The charm of the Christmas concerts has lasted ever since, and they enjoy enormous interest from the audience. This year, tickets sold out in just one week. According to Marian Turner, the general director of the Slovak Philharmonic, they greatly value the collaboration with BChZ. "We are very pleased about this, and that is why we have expanded from the original two or three concerts to six today, when counting the public dress rehearsal as well. It is a whole week of beautiful Christmas, which we get to spend with a new generation of small, very talented boys who are in the Bratislava Boys' Choir."
For the special 30th anniversary, this year's jubilee Christmas concert of the Slovak Philharmonic will be enriched by the expanded participation of the singers from the Bratislava Boys' Choir, and a surprise will also be that Magdaléna Rovňáková and Gabriel Rovňák will share the conducting baton with Ondrej Olos during several pieces.
Gabriel Rovňák, the conductor of the Bratislava Boys' Choir, recalls a unique opportunity he received as a high school student in connection with the Christmas concert of the Slovak Philharmonic:
"I remember how Mr. conductor Ondrej Lenárd gave me the chance to stand in front of the Slovak Philharmonic for the first time in my life. My knees were shaking, but I believed I could do it. Under my baton, the piece 'Jingle Bells' by J. Pierpont was performed. I am very happy that I will be able to repeat this moment at this year's concert of the Slovak Philharmonic."
We are very pleased to bring joy from the most beautiful holiday of the year to our fans and to enhance the festive atmosphere – not only at the Slovak Philharmonic but also with many other concerts and performances at the Slovak National Theatre and Slovak Radio, we will fill the most beautiful holidays of the year with singing. Check out our program. Tickets for several of them are still available.
For the special 30th anniversary, this year's jubilee Christmas concert of the Slovak Philharmonic will be enriched by the expanded participation of the singers from the Bratislava Boys' Choir, and a surprise will also be that Magdaléna Rovňáková and Gabriel Rovňák will share the conducting baton with Ondrej Olos during several pieces.
Gabriel Rovňák, the conductor of the Bratislava Boys' Choir, recalls a unique opportunity he received as a high school student in connection with the Christmas concert of the Slovak Philharmonic:
"I remember how Mr. conductor Ondrej Lenárd gave me the chance to stand in front of the Slovak Philharmonic for the first time in my life. My knees were shaking, but I believed I could do it. Under my baton, the piece 'Jingle Bells' by J. Pierpont was performed. I am very happy that I will be able to repeat this moment at this year's concert of the Slovak Philharmonic."
We are very pleased to bring joy from the most beautiful holiday of the year to our fans and to enhance the festive atmosphere – not only at the Slovak Philharmonic but also with many other concerts and performances at the Slovak National Theatre and Slovak Radio, we will fill the most beautiful holidays of the year with singing. Check out our program. Tickets for several of them are still available.
