Bach Violin Concertos at Christmas at St Mary Le Strand
London, St Mary Le Strand Church
About the Event
Step into the warm glow of candlelight this festive season and experience the magic of Christmas through the timeless beauty of J.S. Bach’s music, performed in the spellbinding surroundings of St Mary le Strand—a hidden architectural gem in the heart of London.
This special concert features an all‐Bach programme performed by the acclaimed Piccadilly Sinfonietta, with celebrated violinist Jenny Sacha. From the serene elegance of Air on the G String to the joyful energy of the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 and the rich textures of the Double Violin Concerto, this evening promises a captivating journey through some of Bach’s most beloved masterpieces. Adding a festive flourish to the programme is Corelli’s enchanting Christmas Concerto—a baroque gem traditionally associated with the season, full of pastoral warmth and sacred beauty.
With over 200 performances each year, the Piccadilly Sinfonietta—featuring some of the UK’s most talented classical musicians—has become a cherished presence on the British concert scene, known for its sparkling interpretations of the baroque and early classical repertoire.
Choose from two performance times: 6pm or 8pm.
‘Stunning’ – Classic FM
Join us for an uplifting evening of candlelit music that captures the joy, beauty, and peace of the Christmas season.
Practical Information
Band AA: Front two rows
Program
- Johann Sebastian Bach – Sonata for violin no. 2, BWV 1003, Partita for violin no. 2, BWV 1004, Partita for violin no. 3, BWV 1006
- Johann Sebastian Bach – Air on the G String
- Johann Sebastian Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No 3
- Johann Sebastian Bach – Violin Concerto in E Major
- Johann Sebastian Bach – Double Violin Concerto in d minor
- Arcangelo Corelli – Christmas Concerto
Artists
| Violin: | Jenny Sacha |
|---|---|
| Ensemble: | The Piccadilly Sinfonietta |
Johann Sebastian Bach
The name Bach and the word musician had long been synonyms in Germany as the world saw 56 musicians from this kin. But it was Johann Sebastian Bach, a genius composer and virtuoso organ player, who shed lustre on his family name. He was born on th 31st of March 1685 in Eisenach, a small town in Thuringia. At the age of 10 he became an orphan and was brought up by his elder brother Johann Christoph, who was an organist in a neighbouring town. His brother was the one to teach music to the young Johann Sebastian. Later he moved to Luneburg where he attended a church school and mastered the techniques of playing violin, viola, piano and organ by the age of 17. Besides that, Bach was a choir singer and later after his voice broke he became a chanter’s assistant. In 1703 Bach was hired as a court musician in the chapel of Duke Johann Ernst III. He earned such a good reputation there that he was later invited to Arnstadt to be an organist at the New Church, where he wrote his best organ works. In 1723 he moved to Leipzig to be a chantor at St. Thomas Church where he stayed until his death of a stroke in 1750. In the year of his death he had undergone unsuccessful eye surgery which lead him to lose his eyesight. During that strenuous time his second wife Anna Magdalena helped him to write his last musical pieces. Bach’s artistic legacy is vast. He created compositions in all genres of the time: oratorias, cantatas, masses, motets, music for organ, piano and violin.
Address
St Mary Le Strand Church, Strand, London, United Kingdom — Google Maps
