Bach & Charpentier – Music for Christmas
Celebrate the season with a concert overflowing with Christmas joy and splendour. No work captures the spirit of a French Christmas more vividly than Charpentier’s Messe de minuit (Midnight Mass), an early Baroque masterpiece woven from the beloved French carols traditionally sung only at Christmas.
Venue: St. Finbar’s Catholic Church, Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Church, St. James’ Church
Address: 46 Levy St, Glenbrook NSW 2773, 94 Archer St, Chatswood NSW 2067, 173 King St, Sydney NSW 2000
Date: 13-15 November
Time: Various show times
Ticket: $30 - $100
Buy / Ticket: https://www.bachakademieaustralia.com.au/events
Web: https://www.bachakademieaustralia.com.au/events
EMail: info@bachakademieaustralia.com.au
Call: 1300 785 377
Address: 46 Levy St, Glenbrook NSW 2773, 94 Archer St, Chatswood NSW 2067, 173 King St, Sydney NSW 2000
Date: 13-15 November
Time: Various show times
Ticket: $30 - $100
Buy / Ticket: https://www.bachakademieaustralia.com.au/events
Web: https://www.bachakademieaustralia.com.au/events
EMail: info@bachakademieaustralia.com.au
Call: 1300 785 377
Bach Akademie Australia concludes its 2026 season with Bach & Charpentier – Music for Christmas, an uplifting program illuminating the musical traditions of Christmas in 17th‑century Europe. Directed by Artistic Director Madeleine Easton, these performances bring together an exceptional cast of soloists, the Choir of St James’, and the Bach Akademie Australia Orchestra across Glenbrook, Chatswood and Sydney from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026.
Opening the program is Marc‑Antoine Charpentier’s Messe de minuit pour Noël (Midnight Mass for Christmas), a piece that encompasses the spirit of French Christmas. The work draws from carols traditionally sung over Christmas in French churches and homes, with Charpentier transforming these familiar melodies into a sophisticated, luminous mass setting, blending folk tradition with the elegance of French Baroque style. Its use of recognisable tunes made it one of the most beloved Christmas works of its time, and it remains a cornerstone of the French sacred repertoire.
Complementing Charpentier’s mass are two of Johann Sebastian Bach’s most loved and joyous Advent cantatas, written during his early years in Leipzig. Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62 (Come now, Saviour of the heathen), based on Luther’s Advent chorale, and Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!, BWV 70 (Watch! Pray! Pray! Watch!).
Together, these works offer a striking contrast between French and German Baroque traditions, highlighting the joyous melodies, hope and expectations that only these composers can give.
Artistic Director Madeleine Easton said, “The Christmas season provides us with such a wealth of beautiful music to listen to and perform. We are taking full advantage of this by immersing ourselves in the worlds of both the French and German baroque with these three contrasting but unifying works that will well and truly invoke the Christmas spirit!”
The performances feature soprano Susannah Lawergren, alto Elizabeth Cooper, tenors Kyle Stegall and Timothy Reynolds, and baritone David Greco, joined by the Choir of St James’, King Street, with the Bach Akademie Australia Orchestra, completing the ensemble with authenticity and clarity.
Messe de minuit pour Noël (Midnight Mass for Christmas)
Johann Sebastian Bach Two Advent Cantatas
Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62 (Come now, Saviour of the heathen)
Wachet! betet! betet! wachet! BWV 70 (Watch! Pray! Pray! Watch!)
Susannah Lawergren - Soprano
Elizabeth Cooper - Alto
Kyle Stegall - Tenor
Timothy Reynolds - Tenor
David Greco - Baritone
The Choir of St James’, King Street, Sydney
Bach Akademie Australia Orchestra
Opening the program is Marc‑Antoine Charpentier’s Messe de minuit pour Noël (Midnight Mass for Christmas), a piece that encompasses the spirit of French Christmas. The work draws from carols traditionally sung over Christmas in French churches and homes, with Charpentier transforming these familiar melodies into a sophisticated, luminous mass setting, blending folk tradition with the elegance of French Baroque style. Its use of recognisable tunes made it one of the most beloved Christmas works of its time, and it remains a cornerstone of the French sacred repertoire.
Complementing Charpentier’s mass are two of Johann Sebastian Bach’s most loved and joyous Advent cantatas, written during his early years in Leipzig. Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62 (Come now, Saviour of the heathen), based on Luther’s Advent chorale, and Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!, BWV 70 (Watch! Pray! Pray! Watch!).
Together, these works offer a striking contrast between French and German Baroque traditions, highlighting the joyous melodies, hope and expectations that only these composers can give.
Artistic Director Madeleine Easton said, “The Christmas season provides us with such a wealth of beautiful music to listen to and perform. We are taking full advantage of this by immersing ourselves in the worlds of both the French and German baroque with these three contrasting but unifying works that will well and truly invoke the Christmas spirit!”
The performances feature soprano Susannah Lawergren, alto Elizabeth Cooper, tenors Kyle Stegall and Timothy Reynolds, and baritone David Greco, joined by the Choir of St James’, King Street, with the Bach Akademie Australia Orchestra, completing the ensemble with authenticity and clarity.
PROGRAM
Marc-Antoine CharpentierMesse de minuit pour Noël (Midnight Mass for Christmas)
Johann Sebastian Bach Two Advent Cantatas
Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62 (Come now, Saviour of the heathen)
Wachet! betet! betet! wachet! BWV 70 (Watch! Pray! Pray! Watch!)
ARTISTS
Madeleine Easton - Artistic Director/ConductorSusannah Lawergren - Soprano
Elizabeth Cooper - Alto
Kyle Stegall - Tenor
Timothy Reynolds - Tenor
David Greco - Baritone
The Choir of St James’, King Street, Sydney
Bach Akademie Australia Orchestra