Bach’s Christmas Oratorio 2026

  • Illustration of dark teal silhouettes of four singers' heads inclined towards the Christmas star, all on a starry night background. Design: Emma Jirele.

Two Performances

Friday, December 4, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Saint Thomas More Catholic Church
1079 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, MN

Saturday, December 5, 2026 at 4 PM
Westwood Lutheran Church
9001 Cedar Lake Rd, St. Louis Park, MN

Period instruments join forces with virtuosic voices for a beloved holiday tradition. Join the Bach Society of Minnesota Orchestra and the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers for Cantatas 1, 2, and 6 from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio along with a New Year’s special: Cantata BWV 41. Like your family’s annual holiday cookie bake, enjoy treasured favorites along with something new. Conductors Philip Brunelle and Matthias Maute lead the way on this vivid musical journey through the mystery of the nativity.

Bach Society of Minnesota Logo

PROGRAM

• Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Cantatas 1, 2, and 6, J.S. Bach
• Jesu, nun sei gepreiset, BWV 41, J.S. Bach

THINGS TO KNOW

• This is the fourth time the Bach Society of Minnesota and VocalEssence have collaborated to perform Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.

• J.S. Bach’s (1685−1750) Christmas Oratorio was written to be performed on the six feast days of Christmas at St. Thomas and St. Nicholas churches in Leipzig beginning on December 25, 1734 with Cantata I and finishing on January 6, 1735 with Cantata VI.

• When Bach died in 1750, his music was considered old-fashioned. It was only when Felix Mendelssohn performed St. Matthew Passion in 1829 that a Bach revival took place, and his music was more frequently performed during the 19th century. This revival helped pave the way for the tradition of performing the Christmas Oratorio during the Christmas season.

• Perhaps the most important musical element in Bach’s sacred choral music, and certainly in the Christmas Oratorio, is the chorale. The chorale was introduced into church services by Martin Luther to allow the congregation to take an active part in the musical worship: they have simple hymn-like melodies that were harmonized by the choir or the organ.

• The Christmas Oratorio, contains music that Bach had already composed. He adapted several earlier secular works that were written for royalty or notable figures and repurposed them. Essentially, Bach parodied himself!

• Jesu, nun sei gepreiset, BWV 41, was written for, and first performed, on New Year’s Day in 1725.