What does Christmas mean to you? This question was posed by Dietrich Henschel to 12 composers from different countries and cultures with the request to create a work for voice and ensemble depicting in music whatever they associate with Christmas. They were free to choose whether religion or tradition played a role. An objective view, criticism and satire were all possible. As was to be expected, the responses were all very different. The ensemble unitedberlin, with its artistic advisor, Vladimir Jurowski, was immediately up for this totally new approach to a Christmas project: “We see ourselves as kinds of gallerists of the musical avant-garde – with the ambition of creating an advantageous situation for creators and recipients.” Andreas Bräutigam, founding member and violinist.