With L’enfance du Christ (The Childhood of Christ), Berlioz ushered in the Romantic oratorio tradition. Divided into three parts and featuring soloists, choir, and orchestra, the work obtained a resounding success at its premiere in Paris in 1854. From Herod’s dream to the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt and arrival in Sais, biblical episodes are depicted with exquisite sensitivity and in a more intimate atmosphere than in the composer’s other great sacred frescoes. For this occasion, one of the foremost specialists of Berlioz’s music, the American conductor John Nelson, will lead the OSM. Nelson is no stranger to the holiday season at the OSM, having conducted Bach’s Christmas Oratorio at the Maison symphonique in 2015.