Bach & Charpentier

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. Filled with infectious energy, warmth and festive dance rhythms, it is one of the most enchanting seasonal works ever composed.

We then return to Bach Akademie Australia’s roots with two of J.S. Bach’s most uplifting Advent cantatas, music that radiates hope, wonder and joyful expectation in a way only Bach can.

Under the direction of Madeleine Easton, five of Australia’s finest Baroque soloists join the Choir of St James’ and Bach Akademie Australia Orchestra for a glorious celebration of Christmas music.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of festive brilliance featuring 38 exceptional singers and instrumentalists, and discover the joy, beauty and inspiration of the season through some of the greatest music ever written.

This was a concert filled with…(a) sense of joy in music making.
— classikON

Program

Marc-Antoine Charpentier
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!)

Artists

  • Madeleine Easton | Artistic Director, Conductor

  • Susannah Lawergren | soprano

  • Elizabeth Cooper | mezzo-soprano 

  • Kyle Stegall | tenor

  • Timothy Reynolds | tenor

  • David Greco | baritone

  • The Choir of St James’, King Street, Sydney

  • Bach Akademie Australia Orchestra

 

Concert - Glenbrook

Friday, November 13, 2026

7:30 PM - St Finbar's Catholic Church

46 Levy St,
Glenbrook NSW 2773

Concert - CHatswood

Saturday, November 14, 2026

2:30 PM - Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Church

94 Archer St,
Chatswood NSW 2067

Concert - Sydney CBD

Sunday, November 15, 2026

5:00 PM - St James' Church

173 King St,
Sydney NSW 2000