Bach's Christmas Oratorio

Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio brings a great classic of European Baroque music to Oulu Cathedral in December 2026. As Oulu’s year as European Capital of Culture draws to a close, the concerts provide a memorable musical experience in the run-up to Christmas.

Oulu Cathedral invites you to pause and experience living European cultural heritage as Cantatas I–III and VI from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, are performed in two concerts: on Saturday 12 December at 6 pm and Sunday 13 December at 4 pm.

Bringing together Baroque music, choir, orchestra and soloists, the concert gives visitors to the European Capital of Culture the chance to experience one of classical music’s best-known works in Oulu Cathedral and to find a moment of calm in anticipation of Christmas. It is a fitting addition to a December visit to Oulu, whether you are a classical music enthusiast or a traveller looking for a cultural experience rooted in the local setting.

Tickets

Admission is by ticket.
€30 for seats in the front nave
€20 for seats elsewhere in the cathedral
€15 for students seated elsewhere in the cathedral.

Tickets will also be available at the door from one hour before the concert.

Performers

Tuomas Katajala, Evangelist and tenor soloist
Tuuli Takala, soprano
Pihla Terttunen, alto
Tomi Punkeri, bass
Domo Oratorio Choir
Oulunsalo Ensemble, led by concertmaster François Pineau-Benois
Conducted by Lauri-Kalle Kallunki

The event will be recorded and will also be available to watch at virtuaalikirkko.fi

The concert is organised by Oulu Cathedral Parish and the Diocese of Oulu.

Experience Bach’s Christmas Oratorio at Oulu Cathedral in December 2026, combining European Baroque music with a festive cultural visit to Oulu.