Bach: Christmas Oratorio

In December 2010, the Choir of Trinity College Cambridge and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment began a series of performances of Bach's Christmas Oratorio at St John's Smith Square, London. The concerts became a regular part of the Christmas Festival, continuing until December 2022. The choir frequently performed the work from memory, and the 2011 concert was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3.

In January 2013, the two ensembles recorded all six cantatas in Trinity College Chapel for Hyperion Records, conducted by Stephen Layton. The recording, released in November 2013, featured Katherine Watson, Iestyn Davies, James Gilchrist and Matthew Brook.

The recording

• J. S. Bach — Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248Katherine Watson — sopranoIestyn Davies — countertenorJames Gilchrist — tenor / EvangelistMatthew Brook — bassChoir of Trinity College CambridgeOrchestra of the Age of EnlightenmentStephen Layton — conductorRecording detailsRecorded: 10–14 January 2013Location: Trinity College Chapel, CambridgeProducer: Stephen JohnsRecording engineer: David HinittReleased: November 2013Label: Hyperion RecordsCatalogue number: CDA68031/2Booklet (PDF)

Recording and digital booklet: Hyperion Records

Selected performances — St John's Smith Square, 2010–2022

1. 22 December 2010Christmas Oratorio, Parts I–III, with Corelli's Christmas Concerto
2. 22 December 2011Parts I–III and VI; live BBC Radio 3 broadcast
3. 22 December 2012Parts I–III and VI
4. 22 December 2013Parts I–III and VI
5. 22 December 2017Christmas Oratorio
6. 22 December 2018Parts I–III and VI
7. 22 December 2019Parts I–III and VI
8. 22 December 2021Parts I–III and VI
9. 22 December 2022Parts I–III and VI

There was also a performance at Saffron Hall on 21 December 2017.

Recording-session video

Recording sessions — Trinity College Chapel, January 2013