Comfort & Joy – Cantatas for Christmas

Madeleine Easton - Artistic Director
Bach Akademie Australia Orchestra and choir.

The story of Christmas with its imagery of angels, shepherds, children, peace on earth and goodwill to mankind has inspired many a great composer throughout the centuries, however none more so than J.S Bach. This theme gave his genius free rein to compose music which continues to comfort, inspire and exult all who hear it.

Bach Akademie Australia presents his tender Cantata BWV 151 'Süsser Trost' (Sweet Comfort), followed by Part 2 of his famous Christmas Oratorio featuring his sublime pastoral Sinfonia. Also in the program is the virtuosic Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor with baroque flautist Mikaela Oberg. Finally, crowning our celebration of the season is Cantata BWV 191 ‘Gloria’, his only cantata set in Latin, later used by Bach so brilliantly in his B minor Mass.