Orchestra and Choir of the Age of Enlightenment / Masaaki Suzuki
Bach: Christmas Oratorio I–III
Bach’s Christmas hit
Sometimes the scent of cinnamon and mulled wine is enough to put people in a festive mood – or the famous drumbeats from the opening chorus of Bach’s »Christmas Oratorio«, the biggest Christmas hit in the classical repertoire. Bach gave musical expression to people’s joy at the birth of Christ in the six cantatas with all the means at his disposal. We can look forward to the first three parts in this concert, when London’s Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment plus choir belt out »Jauchzet, frohlocket!« in Hamburg.
The performance is led by Japanese early music conductor Masaaki Suzuki, who now has the chance at last to make up his Elbphilharmonie debut, which fell victim to the coronavirus. Suzuki has been one of the leading experts on Bach’s vocal music for many years, and in 2012 he received the City of Leipzig’s »Bach Medal«, previously awarded to Sir John Eliot Gardiner and Nikolaus Harnoncourt. He has also set a benchmark with his complete recording of the Thomaskantor’s sacred cantatas.
Performers
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Choir of the Age of Enlightenment
Jessica Cale soprano
Hugh Cutting countertenor
Guy Cutting tenor
Florian Störtz bass baritone
director Masaaki Suzuki
Programme
Johann Sebastian Bach
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
Teil I: »Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage«
Teil II: »Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend«
– Interval –
Johann Sebastian Bach
Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 225
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
Teil III: »Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen«