Bach - Christmas Oratorio

Gloucester Choral Society are performing J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio at Gloucester Cathedral on Saturday 28 November, starting at 7pm. It's a proper choral night in the cathedral's nave, which the society describes as a space built for choral perfection.

Adrian Partington is conducting, and he's known for a dynamic interpretation that brings out the nuances of Bach's baroque masterpiece. The society is presenting the work in full, so it's the whole Christmas Oratorio rather than a selection of movements. On the organ is Jonathan Hope, and the soloists are Louise Wayman on soprano, Simon Ponsford on countertenor, Daniel Joy on tenor, and James Birchall on bass.

If you're not usually one for the classics, it's worth remembering that the Christmas Oratorio is one of Bach's most festive works, and hearing it in the nave of the cathedral is a different experience from a recording. The society's description of the space as 'built for choral perfection' isn't just a phrase; it's the kind of room where the sound has space to open up.

Tickets are £30, £24, £18, and £10, with a £5 rate for students and under-25s. Every order carries a £2.50 booking fee. The concert starts at 7pm on Saturday 28 November at Gloucester Cathedral, 12 College Green, GL1 2LX.