ST. JOHN PASSION

Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 8:00 pm

Charles Blandy, Evangelist; Paul Guttry, Jesus
Soloists: Kendra Colton, Kristen Watson, Pamela Dellal, Krista River, Frank Kelley, Jason McStoots, Aaron Engebreth, Mark McSweeney, Sumner Thompson
The Orchestra and Chorus of Emmanuel Music; Michael Beattie, conductor

Emmanuel Music continues its Bach Signature Season with a performance of the gripping St. John Passion. Dramatically charged, musically rich, and controversial, the St. John Passion holds its own as one of Bach’s greatest achievements. Come hear this masterpiece performed by the extraordinary Chorus and Orchestra of Emmanuel Music.

Acting Artistic Director John Harbison, noted composer and Institute Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will join with Rabbi David Kudan, Rabbi-in-Residence at Memorial Church at Harvard, and Charles Blandy, tenor (Evangelist), to present a pre-concert discussion at 7:00 pm in the Parish Hall.

Click here to order tickets online.

MASS IN B MINOR

Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 8:00 pm

Soloists: Gail Abbey, Kendra Colton, Susan Consoli, Jayne West, Pamela Dellal, Miranda Loud, Susan Trout, Frank Kelley, Jason McStoots, David Kravitz, Donald Wilkinson
The Orchestra and Chorus of Emmanuel Music; John Harbison, conductor

Bach’s B minor Mass sums up his entire career as a composer. It encompasses music written over almost forty years, and includes, in the Symbolum Nicenum (Credo) the thoughts of his very last days. Its range is vast; it is archaic and modern, inward and spectacular. It is a last testament by a composer whose final word will never be spoken.

A pre-concert talk by noted Bach scholar Christoph Wolff, Adams University professor, Harvard University, will be given at 7:00 pm in the Parish Hall.

Click here to order tickets online.

RUSSELL SHERMAN PIANO SERIES

Renowned pianist Russell Sherman returns to present three concerts featuring the complete English Suites of J. S. Bach. Each program will also include one of Bach’s three Viola da Gamba Sonatas and Bach-Busoni Chorale Preludes.

CONCERT 1: Saturday, January 26, 2008 at 8:00 pm

English Suite No.2 in A minor, BWV 807
     Russell Sherman, piano
Sonata No. 3 in G minor for Viola da Gamba and Keyboard, BWV 1028
     Mary Ruth (UV) Ray, viola
     Minsoo Sohn, piano
Chorale Prelude, In dir ist Freund, BWV 615 (Bach-Busoni)
Chorale Prelude, Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659 (Bach-Busoni)
     Minsoo Sohn, piano
English Suite No. 5 in E minor, BWV 810
     Russell Sherman, piano

CONCERT 2: Saturday, February 2, 2008 at 8:00 pm

English Suite No. 3 in G minor, BWV 808
     Russell Sherman, piano
Sonata No. 2 in D Major for Viola da Gamba and Keyboard, BWV 1029
     Rhonda Rider, cello
     Katherine Chi, piano
Chorale Preludes (Bach-Busoni)
     ‘Herr Gott, nun schleuss’ den Himmel auf!’ BWV 617
     ‘Ich ruf’ zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ,’  BWV 639
          Katherine Chi, piano
English Suite No. 4 in F Major, BWV 809
     Russell Sherman, piano

CONCERT 3: Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 8:00 pm

English Suite No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806
     Russell Sherman, piano
Sonata No. 1 in G Major for Viola da Gamba and Keyboard, BWV 1027
     Rafael Popper-Keizer, cello
     HaeSun Paik, piano
Chorale Prelude, ‘Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme’, BWV 645 (Bach-Busoni)
Chorale Prelude, ‘Nun freut euch, Lieben Christen’, BWV 734 (Bach-Busoni)
     HaeSun Paik, piano
English Suite No. 6 in D minor, BWV 811
     Russell Sherman, piano

THURSDAY NOON LINDSEY CHAPEL SERIES

Emmanuel Music Bach Signature Season
Bach: Master of the Violin

Thursdays, February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 6 and 13, 2008 at noon.

Six well-known Boston violinists will present Bach’s unaccompanied violin sonatas and partitas. These concerts will be performed in the intimate, beautiful, and acoustically lovely Leslie Lindsey Chapel at Emmanuel Church and will be offered free of charge. Lindsey Chapel will be open following the performances until 2 PM for quiet reflection. 

These concerts are presented free of charge.