Tilford Bach Festival – Bach’s Easter Oratorio

The London Handel Players, Pegasus choir and our exceptional soloists – Hilary Cronin (soprano), Hugh Cutting, (alto) Sam Boden (tenor), and Edward Grint (bass) perform two pieces of great drama and emotional intensity – Bach’s sublime Easter Oratorio and his moving Cantata BWV 21, Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis.

The sublime Easter Oratorio differs from Bach’s other sacred works in having no original biblical text, no Evangelist narrator and no chorales; the recitatives and arias are sung by four biblical characters, almost like a Passion Play.

The cantata, “Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis” starts in sombre mood; but shifts to the joyful assurance of salvation, closing with a triumphant hymn of praise.