BACH’S MASTERPIECE AT BRIDGEWATER HALL
St George’s Singers has assembled a starry line-up of
international soloists to join them and the Manchester Camerata in
one of the great choral masterpieces when they present Bach’s Mass
in B Minor at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on Sunday 22
June 2008.
Soloists include Nancy Argenta, the Canadian-born soprano who
has distinguished herself internationally as one of the foremost
singers of her generation, and the supreme Handel soprano of our age;
and soprano Rebecca Outram, a renowned baroque singer, with a
voice described by one critic as ‘truly phenomenal – it was as
if we were in heaven on an unrepeatable journey to the
transcendental’.
Counter-tenor Robin Blaze is established in the front rank of
interpreters of Purcell, Bach and Handel, and has worked with most of
the distinguished conductors in the early music field; tenor Mark
Wilde makes regular appearances on the concert platform and the
operatic stage both in the UK and abroad, and has many CD recordings
to his credit; and Michael George, firmly established as one
of Britain's most versatile bass-baritones, has appeared with all the
leading UK orchestras and ensembles, and has sung throughout Britain
and extensively abroad.
Described as “the greatest musical work of art of all times and
of all nations”, the Mass in B Minor is widely regarded
as a summation of Bach’s genius and art, as well as an expression
of his deep religious faith. Bach himself never heard the work
performed in its entirety, and it was not until 1859, more than a
century after his death, that the work was performed as a whole. It
has remained one of the tours de force in the choral repertoire ever
since.
St George’s Singers last performed the work in 1998 but this is the
first time they will have sung it at the Bridgewater Hall. The last
major concert given by the Choir at the Bridgewater Hall was Bach’s
St Matthew Passion, with James Gilchrist, as part of the
Choir’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. The concert was a huge
success, critically acclaimed by the Manchester
Evening News: “St George’s Singers’ performance of
Bach’s ‘St Matthew Passion’ was a musical triumph and a
profound experience…… The chorus was confident and awesomely
versatile ….. It will surely be remembered as one of the greatest
achievements of a remarkable 50 years.”
The concert also marks the Bridgewater Hall debut for the Choir’s
Musical Director, Neil Taylor. A vastly experienced choral
conductor, Neil has directed choirs and orchestras from Macclesfield
to Mexico. This is his first time in front of the Bridgewater Hall’s
2,200-strong audience, however, and he is relishing the challenge.
“I have been looking forward to this concert for a long time. To
have the opportunity to direct one of the finest choral works in the
repertoire in one of the finest concert halls in Europe is an immense
privilege. Moreover, the Choir and I will be working alongside the
superb Manchester Camerata once more, and with a superlative line-up
of soloists.”
St George’s Singers have a busy few months ahead of them. Before
the B Minor Mass in June, they go on tour to Dublin in
May with performances in both Christ Church and St Patrick’s
Cathedrals; and in April will be appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Daily
Service.
Tickets for the Mass in B Minor are £11, £16, £21
and £26, with discounts for students and groups. Available
from Bridgwater Hall Box Office, Tel 0161 907 9000,
www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk.
More information is available at www.st-georges-singers.org.uk.
