Washington Bach Consort Announces Italian-Inspired Spring Concerts

New Artistic Director, Dana Marsh, kicks off Washington Bach Consort's spring season with two Italian-influenced concerts.

On Friday, February 22nd, 7:00pm, at Live! 10th & G (945 G St, NW), the acclaimed Consort Chorus will transport the audience to 16th-century Italy. The performance, Soavi accenti: Glories of the Italian Madrigal, will feature madrigals by Claudio Monteverdi. Highly popular among music-lovers of the period, madrigals drew from classicist texts, helping to establish new relationships between words and music. Composers such as Monteverdi wrote these animated and often daring compositions for two to eight voices, and traveling musicians spread these madrigals throughout Europe (like pop music of its time), reaching composers in England and Germany to apply their own unique styles to the form.

Ticket holders can enjoy a drink or two before the performance at the new Bach Bar, located in the lobby. And, February 22nd's show will feature a post-concert chocolate tasting by The Chocolate House. Ample parking is available at the venue, which is just a block from the Metro Center and Gallery Place Metro stations. Tickets are $10 to $35 and can be purchased at www.bachconsort.org/chamber-series.

On Sunday, March 10th at 3:00pm, audiences can explore the influence this Italians had on Bach at the Bach, Vivaldi & The Italian Influence performance, the first of four National Presbyterian Church series concerts. Featured soprano, Laura Choi Stuart, and the Consort's acclaimed chorus and orchestra will present music by Antonio Vivaldi and Johann Sebastian Bach. The concert will celebrate Baroque music's influence on Bach, which was flourishing in Italy during his lifetime. While Bach was never able to travel to Rome, he transcribed music by Vivaldi and other Italian masters as part of his own development as a composer. "The concert will showcase Bach's attempt to out Italian the Italians," says Marsh.

Audiences are invited to come an hour before the performance for the Consort's beloved and free Talking Bach series, lead by renowned Bach scholar, Dr. Michael Marissen. Following each concert, ticket holders are invited to a complimentary reception with the artists. The venue has ample free parking and is located within walking distance of the Tenleytown Metro. Tickets are $10 to $69 and can be purchased at https://bachconsort.org/national-presbyterian-church-series.

Founded in 1977 by acclaimed music director, Dr. J. Reilly Lewis, Washington Bach Consort is committed to ensuring that current and future audiences experience and appreciate the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and his contemporaries. Washington Bach Consort believes in nurturing the appreciation of J.S. Bach's music through the use of responsible stewardship, education and diverse community outreach efforts. As the nation's premier Baroque chamber chorus and orchestra, the Consort is guided by the principle of performing classical music with period instruments at the highest standard of artistic excellence, so that the joy, magnificence and universality of Bach's music may live on, and that his legacy be ensured.