One of the most important dates in the Christian Calendar, Easter tells the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Oxford Bach Soloists mark the event with two special concerts centered around the music of JS Bach.
The Veil of Veronica, painting by Domenico Fetti (c. 1620)
The context of the word Passion is in terms of the suffering of Jesus in the short final period in the life from his entrance into Jerusalem and his subsequent crucifixion on Mount Calvary. This is the defining climactic event central to Christian doctrine.
The Passion narratives were written by several of Jesus’s disciples. These accounts are found in the four canonical gospels by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It is the Gospel of John, which varies slightly from the other three, which JS Bach took as the setting for his magnificent St John Passion which will be performed by Oxford Bach Soloists on 14 April.
The following day Oxford Bach Soloists perform Bach’s Easter Oratorio. The context and background to this work are quite different as it was constructed from several separate works including the so-called Shepherd Cantata Entfliehet, verschwindet, entweichet, ihr Sorgen, now lost. The name ‘Oratorio came in a revised 1735 version which drew on music from other sources.
The Easter Oratorio covers the period after the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. After a festively scored opening Allegro with full orchestra and solo sections for trumpets, violins and oboes, the focus is on his resurrection as we meet Simon Peter and John the Apostle hurrying to find Jesus’ grave empty.
Women at the empty tomb, by Fra Angelico, 1437–1446.
PASSION
New College Chapel, Oxford
Friday 14 April 1.30pm
EASTER ORATORIO
New College Chapel, Oxford
Saturday 15 April 3.15pm
SPECIAL OFFER – SAVE £10
Save money by buying a joint ticket for the two concerts on 14 and 15 April.
Add full price tickets to both events in your basket and type in coupon code “EASTER” to get them for £40.
