MUSIC lovers have the chance to celebrate the festive season with Wellington Choral Society’s (WCS) performance of J S Bach’s choral masterwork, The Christmas Oratorio.

The exploration of the Nativity features some of Bach’s most spectacular orchestration and is being performed at St John’s Church, Wellington, on Saturday, November 26, at 7.30pm.

The Christmas Oratorio was intended for performance in church during six separate days over the festive season. This choral masterpiece was written for the Christmas of 1734 and incorporates music from earlier compositions.

It includes three cantatas written during 1733 and 1734 in praise of royalty or notable local figures. The orchestration demonstrates Bach’s most astonishing technical brilliance, with glorious harmonies, creating a magnificent rich sound.

The author of the original German text is unknown, although a likely collaborator with Bach was Christian Friedrich Henri. The Society is singing Parts 1, 2, 3 and 6 of the work in English, using the translation and adaption by Reverend J. Troutbeck

Conductor for the performance is Wellington Choral Society’s musical director Laurence Blyth. WCS and soloists will be accompanied by The Wellington Sinfonia.

Tickets priced £12 – under-18s free – are available online at www.wellingtonchoralsociety.org.uk; from Nurtured by Nature, South Street, Wellington; Wellington Community Offices; WCS members Taunton Visitor Centre, Market House, Taunton; and on the door.’