JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
Christmas Oratorio BWV 248
GEORG FRIEDRICH HÄNDEL
Concerto grosso Op. 6 No. 7
Rachel HARNISCH | soprano
Marta FONTANALS-SIMMONS | alto
Maximilian SCHMITT | tenor
André MORSCH | bass
CZECH PHILHARMONIC CHOIR OF BRNO
Petr FIALA | choirmaster
PRAGUE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Jac van STEEN | conductor
The Christmas Oratorio is one of Bach's most important spiritual works and a symbol of Christmas holidays in Anglo-Saxon countries. This magnificent vocal-instrumental work, in which orchestral, choral and solo parts alternate, is conceived as a cycle of six cantatas, which are intended for different Christmas holidays. For that reason and because of its length, it is usually not performed in its entirety. We will present the first three cantatas from the almost three-hour set. The performance will be conducted by Jac van Steen, former music director of the Nijmegen Bach Choir.
The concert is held under the auspices of J. E. Daan Feddo Huisinga, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Czech Republic.
