Easter Oratorio
Olivier Award-winner Peter Whelan directs this Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment performance of Bach’s joyous, breathtaking Easter Oratorio.
Composed in 1725, the piece is an extended cantata that displays Bach’s consummate skill as a storyteller.
After a boisterous opening, it pitches listeners into the drama of the disciples – represented by the quartet of soloists – with heartfelt arias for the two Marys and Peter reflecting on their fears and hopes.
The two other works on this evening’s programme, ‘Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen’ (Rejoice, You Hearts) and ‘Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden’ (Stay with us, for Evening Falls) were both composed for performance on the Monday after Easter.
Peter Whelan is one of the outstanding new generation exponents of historical performance and has been described as a director of ‘rich insight, style and charisma’ (The Guardian).
In demand across Europe and North America, he is the artistic director of the Irish Baroque Orchestra and won an Olivier Award in 2022 for ‘outstanding achievement in opera’ for the Royal Opera/Irish National Opera production Bajazet.
The soloists for this concert feature the members of the latest cohort of the OAE’s Rising Stars of the Enlightenment scheme for singers.
Performers
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Peter Whelan director
Madison Nonoa soprano
Rebecca Leggett mezzo-soprano
Ruairi Bowen tenor
Malachy Frame baritone
Choir of the Age of Enlightenment
Repertoire
Bach: Cantata No.66 `Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen'
Bach: Cantata No.6 `Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden'
Bach: Easter Oratorio, BWV.249
Need to know
Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer at 6pm: Pre-concert talk. Free
For your visit
This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is home to both our second-largest auditorium and the Purcell Room.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.