Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV 248
[Cantata I, II, III & VI]
Marie Luise Werneburg soprano
Alex Potter countertenor
Guy Cutting tenor
Florian Störtz bass
Collegium Vocale Gent choir & orchestra
Philippe Herreweghe conductor
More concerts
- 20/12/2026 | 18:00Weihnachts-Oratorium Düsseldorf, DE
- 15/12/2026 | 20:15Weihnachts-Oratorium Brussel, BE
- 16/12/2026 | 19:30Weihnachts-Oratorium San Sebastian, ES
- 17/12/2026 | 19:30Weihnachts-Oratorium Madrid, ES
- 18/12/2026 | 19:00Weihnachts-Oratorium Barcelona, ES
Weihnachts-Oratorium
No matter how lovely they are, none of Bach’s other Christmas cantatas can hope to compete with the popularity of the Christmas Oratorio written in 1734-35. The reason is obvious: its six cantatas make the oratorio an exceedingly strong musical and conceptual unity. Bach skilfully and pragmatically reworked some of his earlier secular choruses and arias, written for birthday cantatas for the Saxon royal family, creating music in honour of the birth of Christ. In this way he not only saved time, he also gave these splendid compositions a new lease on life.