Madison Bach Musicians

Baroque holiday concert. $38 adv.; livestream $20.

media release: Bach’s Cantata 8 & Christmas Oratorio Part 5

First Unitarian Society Atrium Auditorium, Madison

Dec. 15, Friday–7:15 pm lecture/8 pm concert

Dec. 16, Saturday–12:45 pm lecture/1:30 pm concert

Johann Sebastian Bach composed the set of six cantatas known as the Christmas Oratorio for performance during the Christmas season spanning December 25, 1734 to January 6, 1735. Part 5, the cantata Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen (Glory to You, God, We Sing) was first performed in Leipzig on January 2, 1735, the Sunday that fell between New Year’s and Feast of the Epiphany on January 6. It tells of the journey of the Three Wise Men who sought to behold the baby Jesus, of King Herod’s trepidation upon hearing that a savior had been born, and of humanity’s joy at the promise of salvation brought by Jesus’ birth.

The cantata BWV 8, Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben (Dearest God, When Will I Die), was composed in 1724 as part of Bach’s second annual cantata cycle and was first performed at services in Leipzig on September 24, 1724. The work’s daring opening superimposes the tender, flowing lines of the oboe d’amores upon the clockwork pizzicato of the strings and the high, motoric whirr of the flute part. The passage of time and the ease of eternity are both present. Bach presents us with simultaneous dialectic and fusion: waves and particles, grace and gears. How it plays out is what the following movements are all about!

Estelí Gomez–SOPRANO, Clara Osowski–MEZZO-SOPRANO, Fran Laucerica–TENOR, Alan Dunbar–BASS-BARITONE, Kangwon Kim, Nathan Giglierano, Ben Lenzmeier & Leanne Kelso–VIOLINS, Micah Behr–VIOLA, James Waldo–CELLO, Jerry Fuller–BASS,  Curtis Foster & Pablo Moreno–OBOES, Immanuel Davis–FLUTE, Trevor Stephenson–HARPSICHORD

“… this was the best concert I have experienced, EVER. …the pared down chorus was thrilling and masterful. The standing ovation was electric! A man near me was shouting for joy! I had tears.” —Janet Hayes