Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 19 2 p.m., Orcas Center
— from Artha Kass for the Orcas Center —
Orcas Center proudly presents a rare version of Bach’s B-minor Mass performed by the Orcas Choral Society at Orcas Center on Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, April 19 at 2:00 pm.
Joining the 50 voice chorus on stage will be the Orcas Boy Choir, Orcas Festival Orchestra, the Turtleback Brass, and distinguished soloists Sharon Abreu, Naomi Aldort, Madeline Bersamina, José Luis Muñoz, and Charles Robert Stephens. A free audience seminar will be presented by Artistic Director Roger Sherman at Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Tuesday, April 14 at noon, and there will be a pre-concert lecture at 6:45 pm before the Saturday evening performance at Orcas Center.
Virtually every list of great choral music puts Bach’s B-minor Mass in a top tier, but it is rarely performed because of its difficulty and length. Composed in two stages, the original work from 1733 consists only of the Kyrie and Gloria sections of the mass, with the rest of the mass being added in Bach’s last two years. The first usable performance edition based on the 1733 score was published only last summer, and it is this version which will be presented by the Orcas Choral Society. Orcas Islanders will hear one of the first performances of this version anywhere in the world. Unlike the 1749 version, the 1733 version is only one hour long, and contains many of the most famous movements.
The story of the B-minor Mass, how and why it came into existence, and what happened to it after Bach’s death, will be explored at the free audience seminar on Tuesday April 14. Constructed by Bach mostly from pre-existing vocal works, the B-minor Mass was Bach’s final statement as a composer of vocal music. For many singers, the chance to “do” the B-minor is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This is an Orcas Island event that is not to be missed.
Tickets for Orcas Choral Society Bach’s Mass in B minor are $25, $19 Orcas Center members, $11 students, and may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1, or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from noon – 2 pm. For more information about Orcas Center’s 2015 season visit www.orcascenter.org.
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