WMF, Worcester Chorus, & Soloists (classical)

6pm, Pre-Concert Talk with Claire Fontijn: J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio Cantatas

7pm, Concert

WMF, a multi-genre music festival featuring artists from across the globe, joins the Worcester Chorus for a performance of three sections from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio – written for chamber orchestra, chorus, and soloists. The work by J.S. Bach is exuberant and boisterous, and is a joyous continuation of the holiday season.

Despite its name, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio isn’t only for December. The Christmas Oratorio is a collection of six cantatas historically performed at different points throughout the Advent/Christmas season, and is divided into different sections that tell the story of the Christmas season. Composer John Harbison describes Bach’s Christmas Oratorio as Germany’s “seasonal equivalent to the English-speaking world’s Messiah” with its overarching message of jubilation and grandiose. Come see for yourself why this work has lived on for hundreds of years.