The Advent season is about to begin. Just before this peak season for brass players, we have arranged a ride in the slowest elevator in town with two “newcomers” who passed their trial period in the summer: Associate Principal Trumpet Gergő Turai and Principal Trombone Roberto de la Guía. 

And because charity is as much a part of Christmas as stollen and punch, the horn section even lent them two of their rare special Konzerthaus Christmas sweaters for the occasion!

Roberto: More or less (laughs). There's the Weihnachtsmarkt with little shops outside, people selling sweets, decorations everywhere – that's what many people imagine for Christmas. In Spain, it's not at all like this. For us, it's more centered around the 6th of  January  – el día de los Reyes Magos, the Three Wise Men. And there's the traditional Christmas Lottery on December 22, which is also important.

Gergő: In Hungary, it's more like in Germany. All families have their own traditions, of course, but we sing some of the Christmas songs people sing in Germany, too. We played a couple of them at last year's Christman concert with Konzerthaus Brass and I knew them already, only with Hungarian texts.

Roberto: It's called “Baroque and Beyond”. We start with arrangements by composers from the early 16th century, play works by Handel and Bach arranged for brass ensemble and also pieces from the 20th century.

Gergő: A jazz arrangement based on Bach's “Well-Tempered Clavier” by Luther Henderson, for example. And a new piece by our trumpet colleague Stephan Stadtfeld, which I'm particularly looking forward to. At the end there will be Christmas carols again - the audience can sing along.

Roberto: I used it one time and decided to walk then. It's a good training.

Gergő: Actually, I was almost late for my audition because of it. I was riding up to the Kleine Saal, but came out on the wrong side and was really confused. Since then, I prefer taking the stairs.