Early Music Vancouver hosts Festive Cantatas: Bach & Zelenka, December 22

Alexander Weimann directs the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Vancouver Chamber Choir, and five soloists in afternoon of holiday works

Early Music Vancouver’s Festive Cantatas return for the holiday season with a pairing of Bach’s Gloria in excelsis Deo and Czech composer Jan Dismas Zelenka’s Missa Nativitatis Domini at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts on December 22 at 3 pm.

These two festive works will be performed by the Pacific Baroque Orchestra and Vancouver Chamber Choir, with soloists Hélène Brunet, Suzie LeBlanc, Cecilia Duarte, James Reese, and William Kraushaar.

The only Bach church cantata set to a Latin text, Gloria in excelsis Deo features opening lines that will immediately strike listeners. It is based entirely on the “Gloria” from Bach’s Mass in B minor, with an unusual premiere in Leipzig on Christmas Day in 1745 to celebrate the Treaty of Dresden.

A pre-concert chat will take place with Pacific Baroque Orchestra artistic director Alexander Weimann (who is directing this concert), Benjamin Raymond, and soloist Reese.

Tickets are available through Early Music Vancouver.

Post sponsored by Early Music Vancouver.

Vancouver Chamber Choir. Photo by Diamond’s Edge

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