Similarly to the great master’s “Passions” at Easter, Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio” has become an integral part of the Christmas tradition in European concert halls and churches. While the story of Christ’s nativity remains unchanged and the rhythms of the oratorio are easily recognisable, Bach’s monumental work always instils peaceful happiness and radiant joy in the listeners’ hearts and minds.
Bach composed the oratorio around Christmas time in 1734, envisaging it as a series of six concerts from Christmas to Epiphany. Even though Bach himself never heard his masterpiece performed in its entirety on a single evening, conductor Kaspars Putniņš’ selection of excerpts from the oratorio allows listeners to experience both the story of Christ’s birth and the extraordinary magic of Bach’s music.
Programme
Johann Sebastian Bach, Christmas Oratorio, parts 1, 2 and 6
Participants
Gunta Smirnova, soprano
Dorothee Bienert, mezzo-soprano
Michael Mogl, tenor
Rihards Millers, bass-baritone
Latvian Radio Choir
Sinfonietta Rīga
Conductor Kaspars Putniņš
