For our Christmas concert this year, Nota Bene is joining with The Bach Choir and The Chiesa Ensemble to present Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, a spiritually rich masterpiece composed during 1723 and 1724.

 

First performed in its entirety during the Christmas season of 1734–1735 while Bach was serving in Leipzig, it draws on earlier secular cantatas and a now-lost church cantata (BWV 248a). This oratorio weaves together a vibrant tapestry of sacred music celebrating the birth of Christ.

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This performance features four of the six cantatas:

Part I opens with a dazzling transformation of secular music into sacred celebration. Drums, strings, winds and triumphant trumpets set the stage for the Evangelist’s narration and a sequence of expressive recitatives and arias, including the beloved “Bereite dich, Zion” and the majestic “Großer Herr, o starker König.” Chorales, including the Passion Chorale, frame the cantata with solemn beauty.

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Part II begins with a pastoral, tender tone, portraying the shepherds’ encounter with the angel. The sinfonia evokes a rustic charm with oboes and flutes, leading into serene chorales and the exquisite slumber aria, where the flute hovers like a halo above the alto voice. The cantata concludes with a joyful “Glory to God” and a reprise of “Vom Himmel hoch.”

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Part III returns to grandeur with trumpets and drums, as the shepherds journey to Bethlehem. The Evangelist’s narration is interwoven with contemplative chorales, a duet for soprano and bass, and an aria reflecting Mary’s inner thoughts. The cantata closes with a reprise of its opening chorus, reinforcing its celebratory tone.

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Part VI, written for Epiphany, shifts to a darker mood as the story turns to Herod’s treachery. The music is dramatic and unpredictable, mirroring the tension of the narrative. The arias and recitatives explore divine power and moral conflict, culminating in a triumphant final chorus embedded with the Passion Chorale—symbolically linking Christ’s birth to his eventual sacrifice.

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This is the first time in over a decade the Christmas Oratorio is being performed in Wellington, making this a special opportunity to experience one of Bach’s most joyful and profound creations. We hope you will join us for an evening of radiant music and festive spirit.

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Bach's Christmas Oratorio

7pm, 15 November 2025

St Mary of the Angels

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​Shawn Michael Condon, conductor

Soloists:  Georgia Jamieson-Emms, Maaike Christie Beekman, Ian Tetley, Robert Tucker

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Bookings: from Eventfinda

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