Bach's Mass in B Minor October 14, 2012

The 35-voice California Bach Society, recently hailed for its "beguiling" sound, opens the season with a performance of Johann Sebastian Bach's magnificent Mass in B Minor on October 12-14. Many consider the Mass in B Minor the summation of Bach's art and without question it is one of the greatest masterpieces of Western sacred music. For these performances, under the direction of Paul Flight, the chamber chorus will be joined by a stellar Baroque orchestra, including renowned New York-based trumpeter John Thiessen, Switzerland-based oboist Molly McDolan, and Bay Area violinist Katherine Kyme. The program features outstanding vocal soloists Jennifer Paulino, soprano; Danielle Reutter-Harrah, mezzo-soprano; Paul Flight, alto; Brian Staufenbiel, tenor; and Christopheren Nomura, baritone.

In 1733 Bach petitioned the Elector of Saxony to be appointed court composer, and he composed a "Missa brevis" (a short, Lutheran Mass, consisting of Kyrie and Gloria only) especially for the Dresden court chapel. Over the next 15 years Bach expanded the work into a complete setting of the Latin mass, the sublimely beautiful Mass in B Minor.

Official Website: http://www.calbach.org