Concerts 2026 · Christmas Oratorio & Baroque Music

Stölzel's Christmas Oratorio ranks among the key works of one of the great composers of the 18th century; part of it is heard this evening. Many of his compositions were long considered lost and have only recently been rediscovered. Alongside it, Giovanni Alberto Ristori's festive »Messa per il Santissimo Natale« (1744): working at the Dresden court, Ristori combined his operatic experience and a first-rate orchestra into extraordinary instrumental effects and vivid contrasts in the vocal writing. Both works are performed in historically informed practice on period instruments.

Bach wrote the Christmas Oratorio for the feast days around the turn of the year 1734/35 in Leipzig, in six cantatas. Tonight Cantatas I–III are heard: they tell the Christmas story according to Luke, from the birth to the shepherds’ visit to the manger. Bach had written the festive opening chorus »Jauchzet, frohlocket« earlier for a secular congratulatory cantata, as he did with many movements of the work. Played on historical instruments in original sound.

Bach wrote the Christmas Oratorio for the feast days around the turn of the year 1734/35 in Leipzig, in six cantatas. Tonight Cantatas I–III are heard: they tell the Christmas story according to Luke, from the birth to the shepherds’ visit to the manger. Bach had written the festive opening chorus »Jauchzet, frohlocket« earlier for a secular congratulatory cantata, as he did with many movements of the work. Played on historical instruments in original sound.

Bach wrote the Christmas Oratorio for the feast days around the turn of the year 1734/35 in Leipzig, in six cantatas. Tonight Cantatas I–III are heard: they tell the Christmas story according to Luke, from the birth to the shepherds’ visit to the manger. Bach had written the festive opening chorus »Jauchzet, frohlocket« earlier for a secular congratulatory cantata, as he did with many movements of the work. Played on historical instruments in original sound.