FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
Pam McCarthy-Kern
Bach Society of Minnesota
612-360-0647
pam@becausecollective.com

Jennifer Weismann
VocalEssence
612-716-0556
jennifer@owl-marketing.com

A CHRISTMAS MASTERWORK PERFORMED WITH JOY AND LOVE: BACH SOCIETY OF MINNESOTA AND VOCALESSENCE PRESENT BACH’S CHRISTMAS ORATORIO
Dec. 13 in St. Paul at United Church of Christ & Dec. 14 in St. Louis Park at Westwood Lutheran

MINNEAPOLIS—Oct. 10, 2024—A classic holiday pairing returns as the Orchestra of the Bach Society of Minnesota and the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers unite to perform Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with concerts on December 13th and 14th.

Audiences will hear three cantatas from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio as well as Cantata BWV 40, originally written for the second day of Christmas. This will be the first time these two frequent collaborators of the Christmas Oratorio will perform Cantata IV, the only cantata that uses Baroque Horns in the orchestration. The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, Nicholas Chalmers, Evangelist, and the orchestra of the Bach Society will travel this vivid musical journey through the mystery of the nativity led by Matthias Maute, conductor of the Bach Society of Minnesota and Philip Brunelle of VocalEssence.

Press images are available here. 

“Reverent, mysterious, exuberant–these are all the emotions Johann Sebastian Bach tried to embody when he composed his ageless Christmas Oratorio, and that’s also how we feel at VocalEssence when it comes to collaborating with our friends at Bach Society of Minnesota,” said VocalEssence founder and artistic director Philip Brunelle. “Their expert instrumentalists lift the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers to new heights of artistry, and we think there is magic in the results. This will be a thrilling musical event.”

“We are always thrilled to have an opportunity to create music with the singers of VocalEssence and our friend Philip Brunelle,” says Matthias Maute, artistic director of the Bach Society of Minnesota. “We have something special for this season–for the first time, we are featuring Cantata BWV 40 and the Christmas Oratorio’s Cantata IV, which employ the Baroque French horn. Concertgoers can look out for this unusual instrument, which doesn’t have valves like our modern French horn. We cherish the work of creating a rapturous experience for first time listeners and for those who were so moved by our last Christmas Oratorio that they return.”

There will be two performances of the Bach’s Christmas Oratorio concert:

• 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm on Dec 13 at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 900 Summit Ave, St. Paul
• 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm on Dec 14 at Westwood Lutheran Church, 9001 Cedar Lake Rd, St. Louis Park

Single tickets start at $45. Here are the box office links: Fri December 13 show at United Church of Christ in St. Paul;  Sat December 14 at Westwood Lutheran Church.

About Bach Society
Bach Society of Minnesota was founded in 1932, the first organization in North America to take the legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach as an exclusive starting point for world-class performances with period instruments and historical performance practices that evoke the depths and passions of Bach’s compositions. Under the artistic direction of Matthias Maute, the organization continues its focus on collaboration and excellence, striving to create respectful, successful relationships among musicians, audiences, students, and partner organizations, and building a diverse community with a shared passion for performing, promoting, and appreciating the music of J.S. Bach. For more information visit www.bachsocietymn.org.

About VocalEssence
VocalEssence, the choral organization Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones says “sings magnificently,” provides opportunities that draw upon the power of singing together to nurture community, inspire creativity, affirm the value of all persons, and expand the impact of choral music. VocalEssence was founded in 1969 and through its performance series has debuted more than 300 commissions and world premieres. VocalEssence Learning & Engagement programs help people of all ages bridge, create, and learn across cultures by connecting them with renowned choral experts to provide exceptional role models, grow community self-esteem, self-expression, and engagement. For more information, visit www.vocalessence.org.

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