Freiburg Baroque Orchestra: Bach's Christmas Cantatas

Johann Sebastian Bach:
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland BWV 62
Süßer Trost, mein Jesus kömmt BWV 151
Ich freue mich in Dir BWV 133
Dazu erschienen ist der Sohn Gottes BWV 40

Marie-Luise Werneburg, soprano
Elvira Bill, alto
Raphael Höhn, tenor
Dominik Wörner, bass

Freiburger Barockorchester
Péter Barczi, violin & conductor

Marie-Luise Werneburg, Elvira Bill, Raphael Höhn and Dominik Wörner - plus the Freiburger Barockorchester under the direction of Péter Barczi. Our Christmas concerts in Berlin, Freiburg and Stuttgart bring together the Who's Who of historically informed performance practice, especially for the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.

The program includes four Christmas cantatas that offer an insight into the immense diversity of Bach's cantata oeuvre. The instrumentation in particular provides a colorful splendor of sound: In the cantata Ich freue mich in Dir, a radiant cornett is heard, while in the cantata Süßer Trost, mein Jesus kömmt a flute and an oboe d'amore create an introverted mood. The two horns in Dazu erschienen ist der Sohn Gottes, on the other hand, emphasize the festivity that is a must at Christmas time.

After the large cast in the Christmas program "Angels & Shepherds" in the 2023/24 season, the FBO is now following a different interpretation approach that has been discussed in Bach research for some time, namely the cantata performance without choir. The concert evening will therefore also be a new kind of sound experience!