We’ll be performing a beautiful cantata at Bach Vespers on 24 November, at the church of St Mary-at-Hill in the City of London, at 6.30pm. Bach’s stunning BWV 61, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, looks ahead to Advent and the start of the new liturgical year. This joyful cantata is one of Bach’s earliest, dating from 1714, when he was working in Weimar, although he revived it during his first year in Leipzig. The opening movement, in striking French overture style, is based on Martin Luther’s Advent hymn (pictured), itself based on a medieval chant melody. Other notable moments in the cantata include a tenor aria in the form of a foot-tapping gigue, and the movingly poignant soprano aria ‘Öffne dich, mein ganzes Herze’, which you can hear in a clip from BBC Radio 4 on the right-hand side of this page. The service will also include other music by Bach’s contemporaries, performed by our team of singers and period instrumentalists.

Do come along and bring a friend. Everyone is welcome and you don’t have to be religious. We look forward to sharing Bach’s wonderful music with you.