Washington Bach Consort Rings In The Holidays With Christmas Oratorio

The Washington Bach Consort will perform Celebration: Christmas Oratorio on Saturday December 9 at 6 p.m. at the National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. (4101 Nebraska Ave., NW).Christmas Oratorio, J.S. Bach's best known Christmas composition, was completed in 1734 for the Christmas celebrations in Leipzig, Germany. The oratorio was written with the intention of being played in churches and includes some of Bach's most lavish and varied writing for chorus, soloists and orchestra. With its thrilling passages for trumpets and timpani, gentle lullabies, dramatic arias, ornate instrumental solos, and rousing choruses, the Christmas Oratorio captures the full range of emotions associated with this joyous season.

Celebration: Christmas Oratorio will be conducted by Dana Marsh, currently a finalist in the Consort's efforts to hire a new conductor. Marsh has been praised by the Los Angeles Times as "an energetic and persuasive conductor," and by The New York Times as "a powerful and expressive countertenor." Marsh has performed and recorded extensively worldwide and holds a doctorate in historical musicology from the University of Oxford. Along with Marsh, the performance will feature soloists Kate Vetter Cain (soprano), Kristen Dubenion-Smith (mezzo-soprano), Robert Petillo (tenor) and Steven Combs (bass).

Tickets for the event can be purchased at this link. There will also be a free pre-concert lecture an hour before the concert at 5 p.m by noted Bach scholar Dr. Michael Marissen. A post-concert reception to meet the artists will immediately follow the concert.

Washington Bach Consort was founded in 1977 by the late Dr. J. Reilly Lewis. The Washington Bach Consort is committed to the study and performance of the complete vocal and instrumental works of Johann Sebastian Bach and his contemporaries. The mission of the Washington Bach Consort is to 1) Perform to the highest artistic standards the music of J.S. Bach and his Baroque contemporaries, 2) Expand its audience through concerts, collaborations with other performing ensembles, media appearances, marketable recordings and tours, and 3) Promote current and future appreciation of J.S. Bach in our community through compelling music education programs presented by members of the Consort.

www.bachconsort.org