[Classical] Masterpieces of oratorios. Recommended classical music.

The majestic harmonies resound, and the grand musical form known as the oratorio expresses Biblical stories through music.

Its history goes back to the Baroque era, and it has long been cherished as the pinnacle of sacred music.

Today, oratorios are performed not only in churches but also in concert halls, loved as a vital genre of classical music.

The true allure of the oratorio lies in the overwhelming richness and power created by the interweaving of chorus and orchestra.

It opens up a musical world distinct from opera.

In this article, we introduce masterful oratorios that have left their mark on the history of classical music.

Playlist

[Classical] Masterpieces of oratorios. Recommended classical music.
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	“Hallelujah Chorus” from the oratorio MessiahGeorg Friedrich Händel		The appeal of Handel’s masterpiece “Messiah”
2	the four seasonsFranz Joseph Haydn		Expressing the nature of the four seasons and humanity through music
3	Oratorio “The Kingdom of God,” Op. 51Edward Elgar		Elgar’s majestic Holy Spirit oratorio
4	Oratorio ‘Solomon’: The Arrival of the Queen of ShebaFranz Joseph Haydn		Festive movement from Handel’s “Samson”
5	Oratorio Judas Maccabaeus, Act III: See, the Conqu’ring Hero ComesGeorg Friedrich Händel		Handel’s triumphant march, a classic for award ceremonies
6	Saint Paul, Op. 36Felix Mendelssohn		Biblical Oratorio in the Bach Tradition
7	From Samson HWV 57: ‘Return, O Lord of Hosts’Georg Friedrich Händel		The moving prayer from Handel’s Samson
8	St Matthew PassionJ.S.Bach		The profound allure of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion
9	St John PassionJ.S.Bach		Bach’s Passion oratorios: expressing the Bible through music
10	Oratorio “Saint Nichiren”Mayuzumi Toshirō		Toshiro Mayuzumi’s Buddhist oratorio depicting the life of Nichiren
11	The Legend of Saint ElizabethFranz Liszt		Franz Liszt’s The Legend of Saint Elizabeth
12	Easter OratorioJ.S.Bach		The Charm of Bach's Easter Oratorio
13	Oratorio “The Apostles,” Op. 49Edward Elgar		Elgar’s oratorio, packed with emotionally rich highlights
14	Samson HWV 57 ‘Overture’Georg Friedrich Händel		The grand overture of Handel’s Samson
15	Christmas OratorioHilarion (Alfeyev)		Hilarion’s Christmas Oratorio
16	ChristFranz Liszt		Franz Liszt’s sacred oratorio “Christus”
17	Great FloodMichelangelo Falvetti		An oratorio themed on Noah’s Ark
18	Judit of VictoryAntonio Vivaldi		Vivaldi’s oratorio “Juditha Triumphans”
19	Elias (Elia)Felix Mendelssohn		Mendelssohn’s aria, music that moves the heart
20	Christmas OratorioJ.S.Bach		Christmas Oratorio, a masterpiece of Baroque music
21	Saint LudmilaAntonín Dvořák		Dvořák’s oratorio Saint Ludmila
22	Paradise and PellyRobert Schumann		The story of Schumann’s oratorio “Paradise and the Peri”
23	Christ on the Mount of OlivesLudwig van Beethoven		Beethoven’s rare oratorio work
24	NagasakiAlfred Schnittke		An unusual oratorio themed on the Nagasaki atomic bombing
25	The Dream of GerontiusEdward Elgar		An inspiring oratorio composed by Elgar
26	The Book of the Seven SealsFranz Schmidt		A grand sacred musical work inspired by the Book of Revelation
27	Judgment of SolomonMarc-Antoine Charpentier		Baroque-era sacred music composer Charpentier
28	Passion OratorioCarl Heinrich Graun		Passion oratorio of the Baroque era
29	The Childhood of ChristHector Berlioz		the acclaimed oratorio composed by Berlioz
30	Oedipus RexIgor Stravinsky		A song inspired by Oedipus
31	The Promised LandJules Massenet		Massenet was a composer of operas and sacred music.
32	The duty of the First CommandmentWolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Mozart’s early oratorio at age 11
33	The Drama of Soul and FleshEmilio de’ Cavalieri		A pioneering work of religious music and stage direction
34	GolgothaFrank Martin		The music of Frank Martin, a composer who places emphasis on tonality
35	The Story of the Resurrection of Jesus ChristHeinrich Schütz		Heinrich Schütz, the father of German Baroque music
36	Song of the ForestDmitri Shostakovich		The hidden anguish behind music that glorifies the Soviet system
37	JephthahGiacomo Carissimi		Carissimi’s Jephte, his first oratorio
38	Children of Our AgeMichael Tippett		Tippett composed an oratorio criticizing the Nazis.
39	Guardians of PeaceSergei Prokofiev		An oratorio portraying the horrors of war and a prayer for peace
40	Joan of Arc at the StakeArthur Honegger		A work depicting the night before Joan of Arc
41	Cain: The First MurderDomenico Scarlatti		An oratorio by the Baroque composer Scarlatti
42	Creation of Heaven and EarthFranz Joseph Haydn		The masterpiece oratorio The Creation composed by Haydn
43	Brockes Passion OratorioGeorg Philipp Telemann		Telemann, a great composer of Baroque music
44	Belshazzar’s FeastWilliam Walton		Oratorio works based on Walton’s Bible