FRI DEC 6, 2024, 7:30 PM
SAT DEC 7, 2024, 7:30 PM
Music Hall

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Richard Egarr, conductor
Joélle Harvey, soprano
Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano
Paul Groves, tenor
John Relyea, bass-baritone
May Festival Chorus, Matthew Swanson, director

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685–1750)
Weihnachtsoratorium, (“Christmas Oratorio”), BWV 248

1: Am 1. Weihnachtstag. (“On the 1st Day of Christmas”) Jauchzet, frohlocket! Auf, preiset die Tage (“Shout for Joy, Exult, Rise Up, Glorify the Day”)

Chorus: Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage
("Shout for joy, exult, rise up, glorify the day")
Recit: Es begab sich aber zu der Zeit—
("It happened at that time—")
Recit: Nun wird mein liebster Bräutigam
("Now my dearest bridegroom")
Aria: Bereite dich, Zion, mit zärtlichen Trieben
("Make yourself ready, Zion, with tender desires")
Chorale: Wie soll ich dich empfangen
("How should I receive you")
Recit: Und sie gebar ihren ersten Sohn—
("And she gave birth to her first son—")
Chorale: Er ist auf Erden kommen arm—
("He has come on earth in poverty—")
Recit: Wer will die Liebe recht erhöhn
("Who will rightly extol the love")
Aria: Großer Herr, o starker König
("Great Lord, O mighty King")
Chorale: Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein!
("Ah, little Jesus, dear to my heart!")

3: Am 3. Weihnachtstag. ("On the 3rd Day of Christmas”) Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen (“Ruler of Heaven, Hear Our Inarticulate Speech”)

Chorus: Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen
("Ruler of Heaven, hear our inarticulate speech")
Recit: Und da die Engel von ihnen gen Himmel fuhren—
("And as the Angels went from them to Heaven—")
Chorus: Lasset uns nun gehen gen Bethlehem— 
("Let us now go to Bethlehem—")
Recit: Er hat sein Volk getröst't 
("He has consoled His people")
Chorale: Dies hat er alles uns getan 
("All this He has done for us")
Duet: Herr, dein Mitleid, dein Erbarmen
("Lord, your compassion, your mercy")
Recit: Und sie kamen eilend und funden beide, Mariam und Joseph,
("And they came in haste and found both, Mary and Joseph")
Aria: Schließe, mein Herze, dies selige Wunder
("Enclose, my heart, this blessed wonder")
Recit: Ja, ja! mein Herz soll es bewahren
("Yes, Yes! My heart will keep")
Chorale: Ich will dich mit Fleiß bewahren
("I shall diligently keep you in mind")
Recit: Und die Hirten kehrten wieder um
("And the Shepherds went back again")
Chorale: Seid froh, dieweil
("Meanwhile, be joyful")
Chorus da capo: Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen
("Ruler of Heaven, hear our inarticulate speech")

INTERMISSION 

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685–1750)
"Air" for String Orchestra from Orchestral Suite No. 3

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685–1750)
Weihnachtsoratorium, (“Christmas Oratorio”), BWV 248

6: Am Epiphaniasfest. (“Feast of Epiphany”) Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben (“Lord, When Our Arrogant Enemies Snort with Rage”)
Chorus: Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben
("Lord, when our arrogant enemies snort with rage")
Recit: Da berief Herodes die Weisen heimlich...Ziehet hin und forschet fleißig 
(" Then Herod summoned the Wise Men secretly... Go there and inquire about the little child") 
Recit: Du Falscher, suche nur den Herrn zu fällen 
("You cheat, you only seek the Lord to bring him down")
Aria: Nur ein Wink von seinen Händen 
("Just a wave of your hand—")
Recit: Als sie nun den König gehöret hatten
("And when they had heard the king they went away")
Chorale: Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier
("I stand by your crib here")
Recit: Und Gott befahl ihnen im Traum'—
("And God ordered them in a dream—")
Recit: So geht! Genug, mein Schatz geht nicht von hier
("Go then! It is enough that my treasure does not depart from here")
Aria: Nun mögt ihr stolzen Feinde schrecken
("Now, you arrogant enemies, may try to scare me")
Recit: Was will der Höllen Schrecken nun
("What will the terror of hell do now")
Chorale: Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen
("Now you are well avenged")

The CSO is grateful to CSO Season Sponsor Western & Southern Financial Group.

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is grateful for the support of the Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund of the Greenacres Foundation and the Nina Browne Parker Trust, and for the thousands of people who give generously to the ArtsWave Community Campaign, the region’s primary source for arts funding. This project was supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts. 

Pre-Concert Talks are made possible by an endowed gift from Melody Sawyer Richardson.

WGUC is the Media Partner for these concerts.

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in-orchestra Steinway piano is made possible in part by the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trust.

Listen to selections from this program on 90.9 WGUC March 2, 2025 at 8 pm, followed by 30 days of streaming at cincinnatisymphony.org/replay.