Koor & Orkest Collegium Vocale Gent . Philippe Herreweghe

Two of Bach's most mature and impressive religious compositions presented by the country's leading specialists in this type of repertoire, and all in one evening! If it is to be a toss-up between the Blue Hall or an evening at home the choice is obvious. Bach's 'Easter Oratorio' is, in essence, a revision of a festive cantata composed for Duke Christian van Saksen-Weissenfels' birthday. Step by step Bach magically transformed the cantatas into a fully-fledged oratorio. The final version of the oratorio was performed in Leipzig on the first day of Easter in 1735, and it is a no coincidence that Bach wrote his Ascension oratorio in the same year. During this period, Bach wrote very little church music; he applied the utmost diligence to finishing the large pieces written for the main holy days, and wrote the 'Christmas Oratorio' only a few months before. Not surprisingly, the joy and the intense contemplation that exudes from this well-known oratorio returns in his works for Easter and Ascension, which can be described as nothing less than an ingenious trilogy.