Two exciting concerts celebrating the music of J.S.Bach are scheduled in the atmospheric setting of New College, Oxford with Wake up to Bach! in November and the famous Christmas Oratorio on Christmas Eve.
Wake Up to Bach!
It’s time to Wake up to two of Bach’s amazing choral and orchestral works written to be performed as part of his annual cycle of church cantatas.
Wachet! betet! betet! wachet! cantata dates from 1716 and invites the listener to ‘Watch! Pray! Pray! Watch!’ in a series of choruses and arias concluding with the beautiful chorale “Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht”
Dating from 1731, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme is regarded as one of Bach’s most mature and popular sacred cantatas, often known as Sleepers Wake. In this cantata we are reminded of the Parable of the Ten Virgins with the words ‘Wake up, calls the voice to us’.
Bach Christmas Oratorio
Join us for what promises to be one of Oxford’s most evocative seasonal events with Bach’s Christmas Oratorio on Christmas Eve.
Tom Hammond-Davies directs an authentic performance of this much loved telling of the Christmas story with the first three parts of his 1734 Christmas Oratorio – a glittering masterpiece portraying the Birth of Jesus, the annunciation to the shepherds, and the adoration of the shepherds,
After the performance why not book yourself in for dinner locally so you can also enjoy more music from the Oxford Bach Soloists as they take us into Christmas Day itself from 11pm with Midnight Mass (free admission).
Both concerts are sure to be a memorable way to celebrate the music of this great composer. Tickets for both events are now available online.
