Orchestre d’Auvergne and Notre-Dame de Paris Choir Present Easter Oratorio Concerts in Clermont-Ferrand

On Thursday, April 24, 2026, the Orchestre national Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes will perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s Easter Oratorio (BWV 249) at the Opéra-Théâtre in Clermont-Ferrand, marking a significant collaboration with the Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris.

The concert, titled “Oratorio de Pâques,” is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Local time and forms part of the orchestra’s 2025–2026 season programming. This performance follows a prior presentation of the same work by the combined forces of the Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris and the Orchestre national Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes at Notre-Dame de Paris on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 8:30 p.m., as confirmed by official event listings.

The Easter Oratorio, one of Bach’s major liturgical works, features soloists portraying Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Simon Peter, and John, who narrate the journey from the discovery of Christ’s empty tomb to the joy of the Resurrection. The composition integrates material from earlier cantatas, including BWV 12 (“Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen”) and BWV 131 (“Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir”), and is structured to reflect a theological arc from sorrow to divine hope.

Henri Chalet is listed as the conductor for the Clermont-Ferrand performance. The Orchestre national Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, based in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, is recognized internationally for its excellence in orchestral performance, particularly in the string repertoire, and maintains an active schedule of regional and national concerts.