Seaton Choral Society, Alex Ennis, Michèle Banting

Seaton Choral Society - around 50 strong - will sing Bach's joyful Christmas Oratorio at The Gateway on 14th December, accompanied by a small orchestra: strings, flutes, oboes, trumpets and timpani, with a continuo section consisting of cello and harpsichord.

By Bach's time, the word 'Oratorio' meant 'a musical setting of a sacred text based on a biblical story'. In this case, the story of the nativity unfolds in four ways: through the words of the Evangelist; through arias sung by solo voices; through the slow-moving, heartfelt chorales or hymn tunes, and through the fervent, dramatic choruses.

The orchestra will be led by Alex Ennis and the keyboard continuo played by Michèle Banting.