Our next Bach Vespers performance is on Advent Sunday, 30 November, at 6.30pm at St Mary-at-Hill in the City of London, hosted by St Anne’s Lutheran Church. We perform Bach’s powerful Advent cantata from 1724, BWV 62, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland. 

Advent Sunday was significant in Bach’s Leipzig church as the final day before Christmas when music was permitted in services, in addition to marking both the approach of Christmas and the start of the new church year.

Bach’s masterpiece BWV 62 is rooted in history, being based on Martin Luther’s famous German hymn of the same name, itself derived from a Latin Advent hymn composed by Ambrose of Milan in the fourth century. This hymn tune underpins BWV 62’s splendid opening chorale fantasia, which joyfully anticipates the events of Christmas. A dancing tenor aria continues the same jubilant optimism. A particular high point is the fiery battle aria ‘Streite, siege, starker Held’, a virtuosic showpiece which will give our bass singer a thorough workout. The poignant prayer-like arioso for soprano and alto which follows forms an almost shocking contrast, before the cantata finishes with a majestic final chorale setting of Luther’s hymn.

The City Bach Collective last performed this mighty work nine years ago, in 2016, so we are hugely looking forward to revisiting it. In addition to the cantata, the service will include other music by Bach’s contemporaries performed by our specialist team of voices and period instruments.

Everyone is welcome, so do come along and bring a friend. You don’t need to be religious, you can just come to enjoy the music. Entrance is free (with a voluntary collection). We look forward to seeing you and sharing Bach’s wonderful music.