Bach Society Houston Presents Christmas Oratorio on Dec 10

Bach Society Houston (BSH) will welcome the Christmas season during its 40th Anniversary year with a choral and orchestral performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s rarely performed Christmas Oratorio. Under the direction of Rick Erickson, BSH conductor, the 1½ hour performance is set for Saturday, December 10 at 3pm at Brockman Hall for Opera on the Rice University campus.  Bach Society Houston invites Houstonians to share in the joy of Bach’s glorious musical Nativity story.  Richly scored, Bach used a wide variety of instruments including oboes, flutes, trumpets, drums, violin, continuo and more to express the joyful optimism of the season.  Rising tenor Kyle Stegall returns to the BSH stage by popular demand in the role of The Evangelist. Listeners will be enveloped in sound featuring big choral moments juxtaposed with delicate and touching arias. It’s a not to be missed Christmas experience. Tickets for the singular performance are $30 to $75 per person; students $20; and may be ordered online at www.bachsocietyhouston.org or email lmarx@bachsocietyhouston.org.
“In a season of beauty, I\\\’m excited to present Houstonians with this seldom performed Bach gem,” said Rick Erickson, director of Bach Society Houston and conductor of the Christmas Oratorio performance.  “The Christmas Oratorio brings that beauty to life in a timeless way.”
Bach Society Houston will perform the first three cantatas of the Christmas Oratorio which announce the birth of Christ, the appearance of the angels to the shepherds, and the shepherd’s journey to Bethlehem to see Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus.  Bach composed the Christmas Oratorio in 1734 for the churches of St. Thomas and St. Nicholas in Leipzig, Germany. This story is shared through six cantatas each meant to be performed on a specific day of the Christmas season. Known as a demanding work for both performers and listeners, the Bach Society Houston is thrilled to perform this majestic piece of art for all Houstonians.
Bach Society Houston (BSH) was founded in 1982 at Christ the King Lutheran Church to present Bach’s cantatas in the context of a Sunday evening vesper service.  In 1995 the church installed the “Bach Organ” built by Fritz Noack which is ideally suited for the performance of Bach’s organ music.  Now enjoying its 40th year in presenting preeminent Bach performances, the Society is currently under the direction of Rick Erickson, the former director of the Holy Trinity Bach Vespers in NYC.  Erickson took the Bach Choir to BachFest in Leipzig, Germany in 2017, the first professional American choir to receive an invitation.  The Choir will return for its second performance at BachFest in June 2023.  BSH presents and performs Bach Vespers, chamber music and organ recitals, plus special concerts. Visit www.bachsocietyhouston.orgto learn more about the 2022-2023 season.

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