Musical gems of the Baroque era

MUSIC by JS Bach will be performed by the Melbourne Bach Choir, Melbourne Baroque Orchestra, and soloists in Ballarat.

Conducted by Rick Prakhoff, Baroque Gems for Advent is coming to Ballarat Central Uniting Church on Saturday, 26 November at 2.30pm, with cantatas, suites, and motets to mark the approach to Christmas.

Solo vocalists will include soprano Jacqueline Porter, tenor Timothy Reynolds, baritone Simon Meadows, and mezzo Saskia Mascitti.

Two of Bach’s favourite cantatas, Sleepers awake and Come, Saviour of the Nations are to be performed.

“[Sleepers awake] was written for the last Sunday before advent, and owing to the advent themes it contains, is today often performed during that season,” an MBC spokesperson said.

“The cantata completes Bach’s second annual cycle of cantatas and was first performed in Leipzig in 1731.

“It is based on the hymn of the same name by Philipp Nicolai and references the parable of the wise and foolish virgins.”

Double-chorus motet The spirit comes to help our weakness, and festive orchestral suite, or overture, No 1 in C-major are also on the bill.

The MBO will support the MBC on heritage instruments, including the violino piccolo and taille. Visit mbc.asn.au for more information and tickets.