Featured Artists
Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Carolyn Sampson
Christophe Dumaux
Jonghyun Park
Andrzej Filonczyk
Philadelphia Symphonic Choir
Joe Miller
Immerse yourself in Bach’s monumental Christmas Oratorio, a collection of six spectacular cantatas written for the six feasts between Christmas and the Epiphany, heard complete for the first time by The Philadelphia Orchestra. From triumphant fanfares to sweet lullabies to glorious choruses, Bach’s brilliance shines through every single movement. Yannick leads the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir and soloists in this timeless piece of music that resonates with the wonder of the holiday season.
This is sublime, pastoral music that recalls the peace and stillness of a winter night, the perfect setting for a celebration of Christmas. Bach wrote the Christmas Oratorio in 1734–35 to be played in and around the churches of his beloved Leipzig, where he served for 27 years as the cantor and music director of the school of St. Thomas Church. The oratorio is actually a collection of six cantatas, each marking the feasts of the Epiphany and corresponding to the Christmas story: the birth of Jesus in Part 1, the angels appearing in Part 2, the adoration of the shepherds in Part 3, the naming of Jesus in Part 4, the journey of the Magi in Part 5, and the Magi’s adoration in Part 6.
The spirit of this work, filled with awe and glory, is summed up in this line from the libretto:
“Shout, exult, arise, praise the days, Glorify what the Most High this day has done! Leave off faintheartedness, ban lamenting; Break forth into song, full of shouting and rejoicing!”
Program
Bach
Christmas Oratorio
Approximate Duration
includes intermission
