Bach's Magnificat: Christmas with the Netherlands Bach Society
Few pieces of music sound as festive as Johann Sebastian Bach's Magnificat. On Tuesday 15 December 2026, the Netherlands Bach Society (Nederlandse Bachvereniging) brings it to the Hertog Jan Zaal of the Muziekgebouw Eindhoven in a Christmas programme that brings together three members of the Bach family.
The programme
- Gregorian chant: Ave Maris Stella.
- Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Sinfonia in D minor.
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat, with Christmas interpolations.
- Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Magnificat.
Johann Sebastian Bach wrote his Magnificat in 1723, in his first year as cantor in Leipzig, for choir, soloists and orchestra. It is a setting of the song of praise of Mary, full of trumpets, drums and joyful choruses, and one of his most popular works. For Christmas, Bach added extra movements, the so-called Christmas interpolations, which are included in this performance.
What makes this programme special is the family connection. Wilhelm Friedemann and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach were two of Johann Sebastian's sons and important composers in their own right. Hearing the Magnificat of father and son side by side shows how music changed in one generation, from the Baroque to the early Classical style.
The performers
The Netherlands Bach Society is one of the world's leading ensembles for Baroque music, known for performances on period instruments. For this programme it is conducted by Johanna Soller, with soloists Carine Tinney and Kristen Witmer (sopranos), Alexander Chance (alto), Florian Sievers (tenor) and Jonas Müller (bass).
Practical information
- Date: Tuesday 15 December 2026.
- Doors: 19:15.
- Start: 20:15.
- Hall: Hertog Jan Zaal, Muziekgebouw Eindhoven.
- Tickets: Premium €65, rank 1 €55, rank 2 €45, rank 3 €39, rank 4 €29. All tickets include an interval drink.
Tips for the evening
- Book early. Christmas concerts are among the most popular of the season.
- Order your interval drink at the bar before the concert starts.
- No dress code, though many people dress up a little for a Christmas concert.
- New to Baroque music? The Magnificat is a perfect introduction: about half an hour of bright, energetic music with a clear structure.
For internationals
The texts are in Latin, as was usual for church music of the time, so no Dutch is needed. Concerts like this are part of the Christmas tradition for many people across Europe, and a lovely way to start the holiday season in your new city.
Christmas in the Muziekgebouw
The Muziekgebouw has a full Christmas programme. The next evening, Wednesday 16 December, the Irish dance company Celtic Steps presents An Irish Christmas, and on Sunday 20 December there is a pancake concert for young children.
Getting there
The Muziekgebouw Eindhoven is on the Heuvel in the city centre, about a ten-minute walk from Eindhoven Centraal. The public entrance is at Heuvel 140. Car parks, including the one under the Heuvel shopping centre, and guarded bike parking are nearby. The restaurants around the Markt, the Kleine Berg and the 18 Septemberplein are a few minutes' walk away.
See all music in Eindhoven and the calendar for December 2026.