Wellington Choral Society is ready for its performance of JS Bach’s Christmas Oratorio this Saturday in St John’s Church, Wellington.
The performance is conducted by the society’s Musical Director Laurence Blyth. He is musical director of choral societies in Exeter and Exmouth as well as Wellington and conductor of the Taunton-based liturgical chamber choir In Ecclesia. He is also musical director of the Somerset Community Foundation’s annual Sing for Somerset event in Wells Cathedral.
Wellington Choral Society, now in its 76th year, has about 80 members and performs two concerts each year – in November and March. This year the society is also joining other choirs to become Somerset Voices in the Sing for Somerset carol service in Wells Cathedral on 10 December.
JS Bach wrote the Christmas Oratorio specifically for performance in church during the Christmas season. It is not a single large work but six cantatas which were performed at six different times between Christmas Day and the feast of Epiphany – traditionally on January 6.
David Yeoman, the society’s publicity manager, said, “This is a wonderful choral work and a fitting start to the Christmas season. We hope many people will join us at St John’s Church, Wellington on the 26th November 2016 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £12 (under 18s free) and can be purchased from Nurtured by Nature, South Street, Wellington, from Taunton Ticket Office and Wellington Community offices, via our website www.wellingtonchoralsociety.org.uk and on the door.”