Christmas Oratorio
A Bach Festival
A superb chance for music-lovers to get into the Christmas spirit early, with this rendering of three sections of Bach's Christmas Oratorio by Sheffield Bach Choir conducted by Simon Lindley. Composed as a set of cantatas in 1734, each of the parts was intended for performance on one of the major feast days of the Christmas period. Sheffield Bach Choir and the National Festival Orchestra will present the three sections relating the birth of Jesus, the announcement by the heavenly host, and the adoration of the shepherd. A cantata tells a story in song, with the choir contributing choruses of praise, or playing parts such of the heavenly host in 'Glory to God' or shepherds in 'Let us, even now, go to Bethlehem'. Soloists tell the story using familiar text from the gospels of St Luke and St Matthew. Also on the programme is 'Sleepers Wake', one of Bach's most beautiful and popular cantatas, making this an absolute must for lovers of Bach as well as anyone who loves to hear sacred music performed live with an orchestra, in the wonderful acoustic of a cathedral.
Programme
- Bach: A Christmas Oratorio
- Bach: Sleepers Wake
