FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Pam McCarthy-Kern
Bach Society of Minnesota
612-360-0647
pam@becausecollective.com

Jennifer Weismann
VocalEssence
612-716-0556
Jennifer@owl-marketing.com 

CELEBRATE THE MIRACLE OF CHRISTMAS WITH BACH’S CHRISTMAS ORATORIO
The Bach Society of Minnesota and VocalEssence present concerts Dec. 4 in St. Paul at Saint Thomas More Catholic Church & Dec. 5 in St. Louis Park at Westwood Lutheran

MINNEAPOLIS—Oct. 14, 2026—J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio is a seasonal touchstone for its power to invoke the mystery and miracle of the holiday, and for the fourth year, the Orchestra of the Bach Society of Minnesota is joining forces with the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers to perform selections from the work in two special concerts, December 4th and 5th.

The Bach’s Christmas Oratorio concert will feature three cantatas from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio as well as an additional cantata. Cantatas 1 and 6 are anchor pieces which returning audiences will greet as old friends, and some might recognize Cantata 2, also part of this year’s repertoire. A new discovery will be the first inclusion of Cantata 41, which premiered on New Year’s Day 1725.

The concert features the voices of the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, Baroque instrumentation by the orchestra of the Bach Society of Minnesota, and Nicholas Chalmers, Evangelist, with Matthias Maute of the Bach Society of Minnesota and Philip Brunelle of VocalEssence conducting.

Press images are available here.

“Our ‘Christmas Oratorio’ concert has become the VocalEssence version of Christmas cookies,” said VocalEssence founder and artistic director Philip Brunelle. “We hand our audience a platter knowing they will be happy to see familiar treats they’ve been looking forward to — in this case, Cantatas 1 and 6 — but we include new flavors and textures so that there is a source of surprise and delight, like Cantata 41. And of course we love to have the Bach Society joining us in the kitchen! Those period instruments are magical, like a time machine they pull the room back hundreds of years. It’s a truly special performance.”

“The Bach Society and VocalEssence are a perfect Christmas pairing,” says Matthias Maute, artistic director of the Bach Society of Minnesota. “Both organizations want to keep traditional art forms alive, and to do that we need to show up for audiences with an experience that will touch them deeply. These Bach Cantatas are so stirring, so moving, that they leave an indelible mark on listeners. We’re thrilled to find so many people making our collaboration a cherished part of their holiday traditions.”

There will be two performances of the Bach’s Christmas Oratorio concert:

• 7:30 PM–9:30 PM on Dec 4 at Saint Thomas More Catholic Church, 1079 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul
• 4:00 PM–6:00 PM on Dec 5 at Westwood Lutheran Church, 9001 Cedar Lake Rd, St. Louis Park

Single tickets start at $45. Here are the box office links: Fri December 4 at Saint Thomas More Catholic Church in St. Paul;  Sat December 5 at Westwood Lutheran Church.

About Bach Society of Minnesota
Bach Society of Minnesota was founded in 1932, the first organization in North America to take the legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach as an exclusive starting point for world-class performances with period instruments and historical performance practices that evoke the depths and passions of Bach’s compositions. Under the artistic direction of Matthias Maute, the organization continues its focus on collaboration and excellence, striving to create respectful, successful relationships among musicians, audiences, students, and partner organizations, and building a diverse community with a shared passion for performing, promoting, and appreciating the music of J.S. Bach. For more information visit www.bachsocietymn.org.

About VocalEssence
VocalEssence, the choral organization Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones says “sings magnificently,” provides opportunities that draw upon the power of singing together to nurture community, inspire creativity, affirm the value of all persons, and expand the impact of choral music. VocalEssence was founded in 1969 and through its performance series has debuted more than 350 commissions and world premieres. VocalEssence Learning & Engagement programs help people of all ages bridge, create, and learn across cultures by connecting them with renowned choral experts to provide exceptional role models, grow community self-esteem, self-expression, and engagement. For more information, visit www.vocalessence.org.

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