I returned to Oxford on Saturday 16th April 2022 to perform in the Oxford Bach Soloists’ Easter Festival at New College. I played the cornetto part in Christ lag in Todesbanden [BWV 4] and I played trumpet in Bach’s Der Himmel lacht! Die Erde jubilieret [BWV 31] and the Easter Oratorio [BWV 249]. Tom Hammond-Davies directed the choir and orchestra. There were excellent vocal and instrumental features throughout, though Yu-Wei Hu (flute), Geoff Coates (oboe and recorder) and Mark Baigent (recorder) deserve special mention for their outstanding obbligato contributions in the Easter Oratorio.

The concert began with a last-minute addition to the programme: an arrangement for organ and harpsichord of one of Bach’s keyboard works which is based on the theme of the chorale Christ lag in Todesbanden. This was played by Dónal McCann (organ) and Anhad Arora (harpsichord)—both exceptionally skilled keyboardists.