[Classical] Masterpieces of oratorios. Recommended classical music.

From Samson HWV 57: ‘Return, O Lord of Hosts’Georg Friedrich Händel

Handel: Samson (Oratorio), HWV 57 – “Return, O Lord of Hosts” | Classical Music for Work/BGM

A masterpiece of the oratorio genre by Baroque great George Frideric Handel, Samson.

The piece sung within the drama portrays a hero at the brink of despair and the heartfelt prayers of the people who care for him.

Its chief allure lies in the way an introspective alto solo prayer gradually unfolds into a majestic chorus.

It beautifully expresses a profound supplication to God and the yearning for hope amid hardship.

Acclaimed since its 1743 premiere, the October 1952 recording by the celebrated contralto Kathleen Ferrier is renowned as a historic classic.

Highly recommended for those who love classical music with grand, solemn narratives.

St Matthew PassionJ.S.Bach

Bach: St. Matthew Passion (complete) — conducted by Richter (1958)

Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, a leading figure of Baroque music, this monumental work is hailed as the pinnacle of Passion oratorios.

The majestic architecture of sound woven by the two choirs and orchestra is nothing short of breathtaking.

This piece not only traces the biblical narrative, but also resonates deeply through arias that reveal the characters’ searing emotions and chorales that become the listener’s own prayer.

It is also famous for having been revived by Mendelssohn in 1829, which sparked a major reappraisal of Bach.

There are numerous recordings—most notably Karl Richter’s acclaimed Matthäus-Passion—and it continues to be cherished across generations.

This timeless masterpiece is perfect for surrendering yourself to a grand musical world and immersing in profound emotion.

St John PassionJ.S.Bach

Bach – St John Passion BWV 245 – Van Veldhoven | Netherlands Bach Society

A pinnacle of Passion oratorios that renders biblical narratives in music with majestic harmonies and dramatic development.

Composed by the father of music, Johann Sebastian Bach, this work centers on the Evangelist’s narration, interweaving the crowd’s fiercely emotional choruses with arias that voice profound personal lament and prayer.

One is drawn into a world that combines the tension of an epic opera with the serenity of chorales that soothe the soul.

Premiered in Leipzig on April 7, 1724, this masterpiece is today represented by numerous celebrated recordings, such as Bach Collegium Japan’s album “J.S.

Bach: St.

John Passion, BWV 245.” When you want to immerse yourself in richly narrative classical music, why not surrender to its dramatic resonance?

Oratorio “Saint Nichiren”Mayuzumi Toshirō

Toshiro Mayuzumi: Oratorio “Saint Nichiren” (world premiere)

Toshiro Mayuzumi is known as a composer who represents Japan’s postwar music scene.

He was active not only in contemporary music but also in film music.

Among his works, this grand piece—expressing a Buddhist worldview through the Western oratorio form—is nothing short of overwhelming.

It depicts the life of Nichiren in five parts—Sea, Flower, Light, Snow, and Mountain—where Japanese narration, a sonorous chorus, and a symphonic orchestra unite to weave an epic narrative.

In the final section, the climactic rise powered by the repeated chanting of the daimoku is sure to stir the listener’s soul.

The work premiered in April 1982 as part of the commemoration of the 700th anniversary of Saint Nichiren’s passing.

It is a masterpiece I strongly recommend to anyone seeking a one-of-a-kind musical experience that fuses Japanese spirituality with the framework of Western music.

Great FloodMichelangelo Falvetti

Michelangelo Falvetti – Il Diluvio Universale – Ecco l’Iride paciera | 2 variants (excerpts)

This is an oratorio composed by the 17th-century Italian composer Michelangelo Falvetti.

Written to a libretto based on the Old Testament story of Noah’s Ark, the music depicts the scene in which God decides to bring a great flood upon the earth, the confusion of the people, the deaths of many in the storm, and the moment when Noah’s family, having survived aboard the ark, offer thanks to God.

In 1682, when Falvetti assumed the post of maestro di cappella at the cathedral in Messina, a strait-side town on the island’s eastern coast, this Deluge was premiered there in the same year.

Judit of VictoryAntonio Vivaldi

Antonio Vivaldi – Juditha Triumphans – Arma, caedes, vindictae, furores

This is an oratorio by the Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi, famous for The Four Seasons.

As the title suggests, it opens with powerful, triumphant music.

Composed in 1716 for the Ospedale della Pietà, where Vivaldi taught, it sets a story about the faith of a woman from the Book of Judith.

Juditha triumphans is the only surviving oratorio by Vivaldi; he is said to have written three others, but they have been lost and can no longer be heard today.

If we could hear them, it would be wonderful to do so.

Oratorio “The Apostles,” Op. 49Edward Elgar

Elgar The Apostles – BBC Symphony Orchestra – Gennady Rozhdestvensky (RFH, 1982)

An oratorio by the British composer Edward Elgar, also known for works like “Pomp and Circumstance.” Based on the New Testament, it’s a grand piece that runs to about two hours.

Perhaps the real highlight is the vivid psychological portrayal of its characters.

Elgar conveys the emotions of Judas, tormented by guilt, and Mary Magdalene, seeking salvation, using intricate leitmotifs that reflect Wagner’s influence.

You can also revel in the dramatic dynamics unique to orchestra and chorus—complete with the ancient shofar sounding.

Premiered in 1903, the work continues to be highly esteemed; a performance conducted by Sir Mark Elder won at the 2013 BBC Music Magazine Awards.

Highly recommended for those who want to immerse themselves in a richly narrative world of classical music.