Bach’s remarkable Christmas Oratorio

Johann Sebastian Bach’s ‘Weihnachtsoratorium’, Christmas Oratorio, was written for the 1734 Christmas season in Leipzig.

It was to be 125 years before the next complete public performance, this time in Berlin. It is often compared with Handel’s ‘Messiah’ because there were just ten years between the two works having been composed. Bach’s is considered to be somewhat more earnest than Handel, a consequence it is said of a Lutheran influence; there are three chorales by Martin Luther. In six parts, the original performance was on six days from Christmas Day to January 6 in two Leipzig churches. On four days, parts were performed twice. While it has been described as being one of Bach’s most lavish musical achievements and most popular works,

it is the case that it isn’t performed as often as ‘Messiah’. Nor is it the case that the complete oratorio is undertaken; it’s too long. The Fundació Studium Aureum has therefore selected three of the six cantatas.