Melbourne Bach Choir presents
Bach’s St John Passion on Good Friday & Handel’s Messiah on Easter Sunday
Melbourne Bach Choir launch the 2023 season with an ecstatic triple treat
Following Melbourne Bach Choir’s highly successful St Matthew Passion last Easter,
MBC presents a mouth-watering Easter triple treat this year to launch its exciting 2023 season!
And the three-day ‘Easter Feaster’ features a slew of local musicians!
Come to the Melbourne Recital Centre on Good Friday 7 April at 2.30 pm and thrill to the grandeur of Bach’s St John Passion – for the first time performed by MBC with a small choir. Then return on Sunday 9 April at 7 pm to hear the full massed choir in Handel’s Messiah.
Plus – sandwiched in-between on Saturday afternoon 8 April at 5pm – the delight of violin virtuoso Rachael Beesley performing Bach Sonatas & Partitas!
For Good Friday’s St John Passion, Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir (pictured below) is joined by a superb group of soloists.
Andrew Goodwin’s masterful narration as the Evangelist and Elwood‘s Christopher Hillier’s moving Jesus frame the commentary of soloists Lorina Gore, Sally-Anne Russell (Maidstone), Henry Choo (Vermont South), Jeremy Kleeman (Kensington) and James Emerson (Essendon) as Pilate.
Brunswick East‘s Rick Prakhoff conducts with Rachael Beesley (Richmond) leading a full orchestra;
Rachael returns the next afternoon, Saturday 5pm, with her virtuosic rendition of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas.
Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for violin alone are a true exploration of what possibilities are available for this instrument.
Completed by 1720 but not published until 1802, the French style dance movements of the D minor Partita Allemanda – Corrente – Sarabanda – Giga, all consist of two parts repeated to offer more chance for the listener to explore the intricacies of Bach’s exquisite writing while the A minor Sonata explores the Italian style of writing Grave – Fuga – Andante – Allegro, in the pattern of the sonata da Chiesa (church sonata).
Bracketed with these well-known works by Bach is the soulful Passacaglia by Biber
which tells the story of the Guardian Angel as the final moment of the Mystery of the “Rosary Sonatas”.
Through a series of variations, Biber explores the rich sonorities and varied instrumental colours, bringing Baroque affects to life in this elevated composition.
Then… Hallelujah! Melbourne audiences will have the opportunity on Easter Sunday to experience Handel’s Messiah at Easter, the festival for which Handel conceived this masterpiece. The full massed Melbourne Bach Choir (pictured above with conductor Rick Prakhoff) bring the incredible richness of Handel’s iconic score to the spectacular atmosphere and stunning acoustic of the Melbourne Recital Centre, with soloists Lorina Gore (soprano), Belinda Paterson (mezzo-soprano), Andrew Goodwin (tenor) and Simon Meadows (bass-baritone).
Full details of the entire Easter festival program, ticketing and booking info etc in the attached release, along with photos, e-flyer and poster.
All bookings: www.melbournerecital.com.au
More information www.mbc.asn.au
