Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra - Christmas Oratorio
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio moves from frolicking trumpets, drums and choirs to touching arias
Johann Sebastian Bach was used to writing music for every celebration in the church’s calendar, but to mark Christmas in 1734, he surpassed even himself. Bach conceived an elaborate set of cantatas that would form a journey in music, from the birth of Christ to the adoration of the infant Jesus by the Magi. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio moves from frolicking trumpets, drums and choirs to touching arias, tremendous choruses, operatic ensembles and orchestral interludes. ‘There is no more life-giving, joy-enhancing experience in Bach’s music than a great performance of the Christmas Oratorio’ wrote the composer’s biographer Sir Nicholas Kenyon, words that these performances will set out to prove emphatically. Currently Kapellmeiser at Vienna’s Volksoper, conductor Michael Papadopoulos joins the Orchestra with four esteemed vocal soloists and Oxford Philharmonic Choir.
Bach Christmas Oratorio: Cantatas 1, 2 & 3, BWV 248
Alexandra Lowe soprano
Stephanie Wake-Edwards mezzo-soprano
Sebastian Hill tenor
Matthew Brook bass
Oxford Philharmonic Choir
Michael Papadopoulos conductor
Ticket Information
- General Admission: £50, £40, £30, £15
- Concessions: £5 tickets for students/under-18s in the Upper Galleries and £5 off any other price band, 50% off for Disabled/Carer tickets (phone only)
- Suitable for ages 6+
- Doors 6:30pm
- Running time of 2 hours with interval halfway
- Latecomers permitted at appropriate pause in music
- For ticketing queries, email boxoffice@oxfordphil.com or phone 01865 980980
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