Birmingham Bach Choir launch their 2023/2024 Concert Season on Saturday 18 November 2023 with Radiant Choral Masterpieces.
The concert, at St Paul’s Church in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter, sees the acclaimed West Midlands-based choir take on major works by JS Bach, D. Scarlatti and Liszt.
With text from Isaiah 41:10 and 43:1, and a hymn by Paul Gerhardt, Johann Sebastian Bach’s Fürchte dich nicht (Do not fear, or Be not afraid) maybe one of his least performed motets, yet the work is both joyful and thrilling. Though the date (and location) of composition is contested by music scholars, the piece was written for a funeral, and is an emotionally complex work requiring a two-choir format which touches on themes of doubt and fear, yet also offers comfort.
The son of renowned composer Alessandro Scarlatti, Domenico Scarlatti was coincidentally born in 1685 – the same year as Bach (and also fellow composer Handel). Famed for his 555 solo keyboard compositions, Domenico also wrote several operas and various other pieces. His meditative Stabat Mater, from 1715, was written when Domenico was in Rome and arguably at the height of his compositional powers. Like the Bach piece, it also requires a two-choir format.
The evening concludes with Franz Liszt’s beautiful Missa Choralis. Dating from the latter part of the 19th century (following the death of the composer’s son and daughter), it clearly comes from a different time, yet shares a connection with Domenico’s Stabat Mater. Also composed in Rome, Liszt’s Mass was borne out of a desire to reform the staid religious music of the period and though it harks back to past religious musical traditions, it nonetheless manages to look firmly forward too.
Paul Spicer, Birmingham Bach Choir’s Music Director, said: “Radiant Choral Masterpieces features a programme of three of the greatest composers creating a wonderfully contrasted but entirely complementary trio of works.
“Bach’s Fürchte dich nicht is perhaps the most enigmatic of his canon of six great motets; Scarlatti’s Stabat Mater is truly one the most beautiful choral works of its period; while Liszt’s Missa Choralis is rarely performed these days, and we look forward to persuading a new audience of its radiance, wonderful inventiveness and lyrical beauty.”
● Birmingham Bach Choir: Radiant Choral Masterpieces is on Saturday 18 November 2023 at St. Paul’s Church, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham B3 1QZ. For tickets and more information, see: birmingham.bachchoir.com
LISTINGS
Saturday 18 November 2023
Birmingham Bach Choir: Radiant Choral Masterpieces
St. Paul’s Church, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham B3 1QZ
7pm
Tickets: Central Nave £25 (£23 conc); Side Nave £20 (£18 conc); Students £12.
birmingham.bachchoir.com
Birmingham Bach Choir
Paul Spicer: conductor
Martyn Rawles: organist
Programme
JS Bach: Fürchte dich nicht
D Scarlatti: Stabat Mater
Liszt: Missa Choralis
Email: tickets@birmingham.bachchoir.com
Website: birmingham.bachchoir.com
Direct link: https://birmingham.bachchoir.com/concerts—tickets.html
FORTHCOMING CONCERTS
Sunday 17 December 2023
Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
St Paul’s Church, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham
Saturday 9 March 2024
St Matthew Passion
Lichfield Cathedral, Lichfield
ABOUT BIRMINGHAM BACH CHOIR
As one of the UK’s leading large chamber choirs, Birmingham Bach Choir has been contributing to the musical life of the West Midlands since 1919, making it one of the longest established musical groups in the area. Although the main focus is the Baroque period (especially JS Bach), the choir performs music spanning 600 years, including 20th and 21st century works, and has premiered many new choral works.
2019 was the choir’s centenary, a year which saw them make a series of special appearances, including a Gala Concert in Lichfield Cathedral and a performance for Royalty.
The 2022-2023 Season marks Conductor Paul Spicer’s 30th anniversary with the choir. Highlights of the season so far have included the first West Midlands performance of Rachmaninoff’s Liturgy of St John Chrysostom in Liturgical Slavonic in living memory.