"Not only do we have the most beautiful stadium in the world, we also have the most beautiful choir." It was with these words that Nobby Dickel concluded the Christmas carol singing in the Signal Iduna Park on the third Sunday of Advent. True to the motto "a game lasts 90 minutes", two halves of 45 minutes had been spent singing traditional and modern Christmas carols beforehand.

As opposed to cheers of encouragement aimed at Borussia Dortmund's players, notes of a more contemplative kind reverberated around Germany's largest football stadium. A stage had been erected in the lower tier of the East Stand adorned with decorated Christmas trees, while the lights were dimmed. It was the first time that BVB had extended invites to "Dortmund Sings Christmas Carols" so that everybody could attune themselves to the forthcoming yuletide season. 

More than 30,000 spectators had taken up the invitation to the stadium and formed a great black and yellow Christmas choir. The fans were given musical support by the band Filou, the string quartet La Finesse and the Dortmund Concert House's Choir Academy consisting of 130 children and young persons, all of whom were recognisable by their wearing of a yellow Santa hat and black and yellow scarf. Jo Marie Dominiak and pop star Sasha were among the solo artists present on the day. "It is a great honour for me to be here", said the BVB fan.

"Snow falls softly at night", "Merry Christmas everywhere", "White Christmas" and "Jingle Bells" were included among the total of 20 Christmas carols that had been selected for the event. The BVB anthem "Light up my star, Borussia" and the football classic "You'll never walk alone" rounded off the programme, during which some of the senior team players led by Marcel Schmelzer and also Borussia Dortmund's training team demonstrated their singing prowess.

The event was not completely without cheers of encouragement though: Nobby Dickel was already looking ahead to the upcoming DFB Cup match on Wednesday, and struck up the classic "Pull down the Bavarians' lederhosen", traditionally sung for the team. The fans in the stands were only too happy to follow his lead.

The proceeds from the concert will be put towards the Fan Project and the Gast-Haus e.V in Dortmund (a registered association that helps homeless people). "We are proud that we had the courage to invite people to sing Christmas carols in a football stadium", was Business Manager Thomas Treß's positive conclusion.

Christina Reinke