Vivaldi. Bach, Corelli

The Bach Choir of Wellington invites you to their final concert of 2024 featuring Chiesa Ensemble and presenting a selection of Baroque masterpieces by Vivaldi, Bach and Corelli. We are joined by soloists Rowena Simpson (soprano), Maaike Christie-Beekman (soprano) and Theadore Moolenaar (tenor).

The concert begins with J.S. Bach’s cantata ‘Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland’, BWV 61, composed in 1725 for the first Sunday of Advent. This cantata is a vibrant and reflective work based on Martin Luther’s hymn of the same name. Each movement captures a different spirit of the Advent season, ranging from solemn and introspective to jubilant and celebratory.

Arcangelo Corelli’s ‘Christmas Concerto’ (Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6, No. 8) is a beloved Baroque masterpiece from 1690. This charming work, part of Corelli’s renowned Opus 6, features six movements, including a lively ‘Allegro’ and, a serene ‘Largo’ that beautifully evokes the Nativity scene. With its elegant Baroque style and pastoral mood, highlighted by a captivating ‘pastorale’ movement, the ‘Christmas Concerto’ offers a refined and joyful celebration of the season’s spirit.

The concert closes with Antonio Vivaldi’s much-loved ‘Gloria’, RV 589, composed in 1715. This vibrant choral treasure is a setting of the traditional Gloria text from the Mass set to high-spirited music. Known for its dynamic contrasts and vivid orchestration, it showcases Vivaldi’s signature energetic rhythms and bright orchestral colours, making this a work of both devotional depth and energetic expressivity.