November 2020
Morning Star
***CANCELLED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS Please click for more information*** An instruction to ‘Take what is yours and go away’ opens this concert of three of Bach’s most celebrated chorale-cantatas. These direct words in Cantata 114 draw from the Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard, and are followed directly by a second instruction not to grumble when things don’t go as planned. Cantata 96 compares Christ to the ‘Morning Star’, with the appearance of a sparkling sopranino recorder, used for the first time in his cantatas, and the famous melody by Philipp Nicolai often heard at Christmas, ‘Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern’ (How brightly shines the morning star)
Find out more »Back to Bach: Filippo Turkheimer & Dónal McCann
Our YouTube series Back to Bach reveals how OBS musicians have returned to the works of JS Bach during lockdown. Amore traditore, BWV 203 Concerto in D major after Vivaldi, BWV 972 In this fifth episode, Filippo Turkheimer (bass) and Dónal McCann (harpsichord) explore Bach’s enthralling output during his stint as the Kapellmeister in Cöthen. Bach’s affinity with Italian composers and compositional models strongly pervades throughout his works for the prestigious German court. Indeed, the two works on show—the Italian…
Find out more »December 2020
Wedding Feast
***CANCELLED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS Please click for more information*** Themes of weddings and feasts abound in Cantata 180, Bach’s choral-cantata setting of the great Eucharist hymn, ‘Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele’ (Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness). Based on the Parable of the Great Banquet, it maintains a festive feeling throughout, imagining a bride preparing for her wedding, full of charm, grace, and great delicacy.
Find out more »Christmas Oratorio Parts 1 & 3
***CANCELLED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS Please click for more information*** Join us for one of Oxford’s most evocative seasonal events in the magical setting of New College Chapel. J. S. Bach’s much loved telling of the Christmas story describes the Birth of Jesus, the annunciation to the shepherds, and the adoration of the shepherds in his Christmas Oratorio of 1734. Spread over two days, the Oratorio shares the stage with Bach’s Advent masterpiece Cantata 62 Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, and Christmas Cantatas written in his second year at Leipzig. Such festive and brilliant music is sure to be a memorable way to celebrate Christmas this year!
Find out more »Christmas Oratorio Part 4
***CANCELLED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS Please click for more information*** Join us for one of Oxford’s most evocative seasonal events in the magical setting of New College Chapel. J. S. Bach’s much loved telling of the Christmas story describes the Birth of Jesus, the annunciation to the shepherds, and the adoration of the shepherds in his Christmas Oratorio of 1734. Spread over two days, the Oratorio shares the stage with Bach’s Advent masterpiece Cantata 62 Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, and Christmas Cantatas written in his second year at Leipzig. Such festive and brilliant music is sure to be a memorable way to celebrate Christmas this year!
Find out more »
