Easter Oratorio, Bach

Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 8:30 PM

Estimated Run Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris

Through cantatas BWV 12 and BWV 131, Bach explores the depth of human suffering and repentance, which gradually rises toward the light of divine hope.
Celebrating the Resurrection of Christ, the Easter Oratorio unfolds luminous and festive music, largely drawing on material from Bach's earlier works. Although much more concise in format than the great Passions, it displays the same richness of language, carried by the momentum of the Easter message: virtuoso instrumental sections, lively dialogue between the soloists, and the final chorus proclaim the triumph of life. Without a single narrator, four characters—Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Simon Peter, and John—tell the story, from the initial shock at Jesus' empty tomb to the dazzling joy of rediscovered faith. The Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris and the Orchestre National Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes join forces to deliver a vibrant interpretation of this masterpiece.

Photo by ©Yannick Boschat

Program

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Cantate Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen BWV 12
Cantate Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir BWV 131
Oster-Oratorium (Easter Oratorio) BWV 249

Cast

Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris
Orchestre National Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Henri Chalet, conductor