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Bach's Mass in B Minor

John Butt conducts the 大象传媒 Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in Bach's mighty late choral masterpiece, with a stellar cast of soloists.

John Butt conducts the 大象传媒 Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in Bach's mighty late choral masterpiece, with a stellar cast of soloists.

Recorded on the 2nd February 2019 at the Barbican, London.

Presented by Ian Skelly

JS Bach: Mass in B minor, BWV 232
Joanne Lunn (soprano)
Mary Bevan (soprano)
Alex Potter (countertenor)
Samuel Boden (tenor)
Edward Grint (bass)
大象传媒 Symphony Chorus
大象传媒 Symphony Orchestra
John Butt (conductor)

John Butt, one of the most innovative and celebrated Bach interpreters today, conducts the 大象传媒 Symphony Chorus in its first performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor for 40 Years. At the heart of the 大象传媒 Symphony Chorus's 90th-birthday season, the exciting fusion of Butt's own period approach with modern instruments and large-scale choral forces will make for a fascinating combination in one of the most technically challenging yet rewarding pieces of the choral repertoire.

To composer Benjamin Britten the work was one of the two pillars of Western civilisation; for the revered writer on music Donald Francis Tovey, in the excitement of the Mass's Sanctus 鈥楤ach is here conducting the angelic hosts. The strings represent the swinging of censers: the various antiphonal sections of the choir sing to each other like two seraphim.'

2 hours, 28 minutes

Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Mass in B Minor BWV 232

    Singer: Joanne Lunn. Singer: Mary Bevan. Singer: Samuel Boden. Singer: Alex Potter. Singer: Edward Grint. Choir: 大象传媒 Symphony Chorus. Orchestra: 大象传媒 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: John Butt.
  • William Walton

    The Wise Virgins - Complete Ballet (after J.S.Bach)

    Orchestra: 大象传媒 Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Barry Wordsworth.
  • Sir James MacMillan

    A Child's Prayer

    Choir: Gabrieli Consort. Conductor: Paul McCreesh.
    • SIGNUM.

Broadcast

  • Tue 5 Feb 2019 19:30