Bethlehem 2000

• 28 Nov. 18:00 First Advent Concert. Inaugural Concert of Bethlehem 2000: The Vienna Boys Choir, Vienna Chamber Orchestra and Vienna Chamber Choir performs the Coronation Mass conducted by Wolfdieter Maurer. St. Catherine's Church, By invitation

• 29 Nov. 20:00 Star Concert: The Vienna Boys Choir performs a selection of Christmas songs and Palestinian folklore. Manger Square,For invitation cards please contact Bethlehem 2000 at (02) 2742224
• 3 Dec. 17:00 Concert : A concert of the Capella ducale Venetia, performing Palestrina's Canticum Canticorum. Terra Sancta School Theatre, Free entry
• 4 Dec.: Inauguration of the Bethlehem 2000 Millennium celebrations Grand inaugural event to launch the Millennium celebrations
• 4 Dec. 11:00 Official inauguration of the Bethlehem 2000 celebrations: His Excellency President Yasser Arafat officially inaugurates the Bethlehem 2000 celebrations. Manger Square
• 4 Dec. 13:00 Grand parade: Dance and music groups from all over Palestine walking the streets of Bethlehem, with live music and dance. Participating groups: Fadous (Gaza), Massa Marittima (Italy), Ibda' group (Bethlehem), Al- Manhal group (Nablus), The National Conservatory of Music, First Ramallah Group (Ramallah), Folklore (Battir), Salesian Brass Band (Bethlehem), Baladna Group (Nablus), The Police Musical Ensemble, Dar Salah Bedouin Tent.
• 4 Dec., 15:30 - 17:00 Common Celebration of the Millennium: The inauguration of the Millennium by patriarchs, archbishops and bishops of the 13 Churches of Jerusalem.

• 4 Dec. 17:15 Arrival of the pioneers of the Mary and Joseph walk: The arrival and welcome of the first walking journey in the footsteps of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The participants will sign a historic registry record upon arrival in Bethlehem and participate in the lighting of the Christmas tree. Manger Square
• 4 Dec. 17:30 Illumination of the Christmas Tree and the illumination of Bethlehem
• 4 Dec. 17:45 Special Performance: Massa Maritima group from Italy give a special performance with flags and music. Manger Square
• 4 Dec. 19:15 First inaugural concert: Renowned Lebanese singer, Marcel Khalifeh, will present a special concert from Beirut to be broadcast live for the inauguration Manger Square.
• 4 Dec. 20:00 Second Inaugural concert: Sabreen Music Ensemble - Palestine, accompanied by musicians from Egypt, Great Britain, and France. Manger Square
• 5 Dec. 15:00 Millennium Peace Run Arrival: An official reception on Manger Square of the Middle East Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace- Runs International. The public is invited to join the runners.
• 5 Dec. 19:00 Second Advent Concert: Ancient Hellenic and Early Christian music from Sicily, by Musica Barocca Antonio Il Verso di Palermo with Maestro Ficola. St. Catherine's Church
• 9 Dec. Bethlehem 2000/ Bethlehem Municipality/ Vienna Hall present: Weimar 1999 in Bethlehem Chamber Music event with children performing from Palestine, Jordan, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel and the host: Germany. Vienna Hall Bethlehem Municipality, Free entry

• 9 Dec. 15: 00 Inauguration of the Peace Centre in Bethlehem
• 12 Dec. 19:00 Third Advent Concert: Bach's Christmas Oratorio, performed by the Orchestra of the XVIII Century - The Netherlands, conducted by Franz Brüggen. St. Catherine's Church
• 15 Dec. 20:00 Christmas Market Gala Dinner: Gala dinner featuring a special guest perfor mance by a renowned Arab singer. Nissan Hall Ticketed, For reservations call: (02) 2742224

• 15 Dec. - 6 Jan. The Bethlehem Christmas Market: The Christmas Market of Palestinian arts and crafts will open on Star Street in the heart of the old city of Bethlehem. Renovated old shops will feature a wide variety of crafts with unique Christmas gifts from Palestine. Star Street 18 Dec. Feast of Mar Saba, religious celebration in the Monastery (contact the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate 02-6271657).
• 17-19 Dec. St. Nicholas' Popular Festival: Street parades, fun fairs, performances, and religious processions in the city of Beit Jala celebrating the feast of St. Nicholas, the guardian saint of the city. St. Nicholas Committee Tel. (02) 2742398 Beit Jala, Ticketed events, Street performances
• 19 Dec. Fourth Advent Concert: The Bethlehem 2000 Christmas Oratorio - composed and conducted by Luigi Cipriano, performed by the Orchestra and Choir of Covilha- Portugal. Jubilee Hall, Ticketed

• 24 Dec.- 6 Jan. Christmas and New Year Celebrations: Catholic and Evangelical Churches of the Holy Land celebrate the season to the Epiphany
• 24 Dec. 20:00 Choirs of the World on Manger Square: Choirs from Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Palestine will perform in Manger Square. The programme will include Christmas performances from different countries in a variety of languages and musical styles, which will reflect the universality of Bethlehem on this special occasion. Choirs and performers featured include the Muungano National Choir (Kenya), Liz Mc Comb (USA), Coro Nacional de Cuba (Cuba), Coro Misto da Covilha (Portugal), Tschaikovsky Municipal Chamber Choir (Russia), Master's Voice (Sweden), Kolner Kantorei (Germany), I Minipolifonici with soloist Katia Ricciarelli (Italy) The Bethlehem Bible College Choir (Bethlehem), and Ud an Nad Choir (Nazareth). Manger Square, Free entry
• 24 Dec. Inauguration of "The Nativity Museum": An international permanent exhibition of crèches organised through UNESCO. The Salesian Convent
• 25 Dec. - 7 Jan. 13 Holy Nights
• 25 - 26 Dec. Maudits Sonnants. Actors, musicians and acrobats in an amazing show by the Nativity Church. Sponsored by AFAA-Mission 2000, the French Consulate General and the UNDP. Manger Square, Free entry

In cooperation with the Jerusalem Festival for Religious Music, Bethlehem will enjoy evenings of oriental and western music to celebrate the Christmas and Ramadan seasons.

• 27 Dec. 19:30 Aysha Radwan Jubilee Hall, Ticketed
• 28 Dec. 19:30 Lutfi Boushnaq Jubilee Hall, Ticketed
• 29 Dec. 19:30 Suleyman Erguner Jubilee Hall, Ticketed
• 31 Dec. 19:30 Les Aissawa de Fes Manger Square, Free entry
• 26 Dec. - 6 Jan. 2000 International Youth Camp Organised by the Palestinian Red Crescent at Talitha Qumi school in Beit Jala. Tel.: (02) 2406515, Fax. (02) 2406518
• 28 Dec. 12:00 - 17:00 Remembering the Innocents Day: A children's festival organised by the Holy Land Trust in memory of the children of Bethlehem killed by King Herod's soldiers 2000 years ago. Tel.: (02) 2765930
• 30 Dec. 20:00 The Angels of Bethlehem: Children's choirs from Bethlehem perform on Manger Square. Schools participating are: St. Joseph's Girls School, Lutheran School, The Good Shepherd Swedish School, Taleetha Kumi School, Terra Sancta School, Chile School, and the Bethlehem Children's Choir. Manger Square, Free entry
• 31 Dec. New Year's Eve: Featured on Manger Square will be Moroccan soloist Amina Alaoui with a Palestinian children's choir, a candle vigil and 2000 doves flying in the sky of Bethlehem at midnight. After midnight Rai singers Rachid Taha and Cheb Faudel will give a special millennium concert for Bethlehem. A Star Concert will be announced. Manger Square, Free entry