This year's Christmas concert focuses on the Virgin Mary and the Baby Jesus. Not only because Mary and the child coming to the world are the two key figures of the festivities but also because Christmas means special magic for today's children, with its angels, gifts, Christmas trees and the marvels of the holiday. The middle movement of Mozart's famous motet prays to the Virgin for peace, and its joy proclaims the end of perils. Mendelssohn's two Marian hymns are only very rarely heard gems, while Verdi's Ave Maria for soprano solo was "transferred" to the realm of the Church from one of his operas. Between the ecclesiastical works, Bizet and Debussy's works are presented in parts and set in the children's universe. Their character movements resemble gifts unwrapped by the kids under the Christmas tree one by one. During the evening, the concert's maestro – clothed in his composer’s gown –also brings a gift to the audience.