Christmas Oratorio

A timeless musical Christmas tale

Johann Sebastian Bach's life-affirming Christmas Oratorio is on the program for this year's Christmas concerts with The Norwegian Soloists' Choir, Ensemble Allegria, and conductor Grete Pedersen. Together, they perform the great classic of the season.

For many, the Christmas Oratorio is a cherished part of the Christmas tradition. Three hundred years after its premiere, Bach's solemn and grand work, with narrative recitatives and beautiful arias, is more popular than ever.

The music is composed around the Christmas story and conveys the tale of Jesus' birth. The oratorio consists of six parts that, in Bach's time, were performed over six holidays. At this concert, we will hear the first three parts.

With innovative energy and artistic vision, conductor Grete Pedersen has led The Norwegian Soloists' Choir to ever-new musical heights. In the summer of 2025, she will pass the baton after 35 years as Artistic Director, the same year the choir marks its 75th anniversary. It is the first time the Soloists' Choir and conductor Grete Pedersen will perform Bach's Christmas Oratorio together. This year's Christmas tour marks a monumental conclusion to a series of acclaimed Christmas projects they have done together.