Bach in Baltimore: Welcome "Bach" Fireworks
$32 concert only, $50 concert + Oktoberfest ($10 ages 13-18/full-time student; ages 12 & under free)
- Kerry Holahan, soprano
- Karoline Guerin, alto
- Joseph Regan, tenor
- Phillip Collister, bass
- Towson University Chorale
- Diana V. Sáez, conductor
Johann Sebastian Bach — Christen, ätzet diesen Tag ("Christians, engrave this day"), BWV 63
Bach in Baltimore returns with triumphant works by Bach and Handel performed by the Bach in Baltimore Choir and Orchestra. Handel's Music for Royal Fireworks was composed to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle between Britain and France, ending a conflict over the Austrian throne. Handel named the third movement "La Paix" ("The Peace") and the "La Réjouissance" ("The Rejoicing") to commemorate the mood of elation that followed the conclusion of the conflict. King George II, who had a keen interest in music, told Handel that he "hoped there would be no fiddles," much to the composer's alarm. Handel was able to satisfy the king's tastes by writing for a military band of 18 brass instruments, 37 woodwinds, and three timpani. It premiered with fireworks in London's Green Park for an audience of over 12,000 in 1749. "Fireworks" are also on display with Bach's Cantata 63: Christen, ätzet diesen Tag ("Christians, engrave this day"), a festive work that opens with trumpets heralding the mercy of the coming Jesus. With a rapid-fire exchange between the chorus and orchestra, the music builds majestic anticipation.
About Bach in Baltimore
Bach in Baltimore’s mission is to perform the choral and instrumental works of Johann Sebastian Bach (and his contemporaries) and to educate the concert-going public about the musical language of Bach and the texts he chose to set to music.
We strive each month to present these works in a historically informed way that will enrich the lives of our audience members and inspire creativity. We wish to foster an appreciation for the arts, particularly for Baroque music, within the entire community. We are committed to providing educational experiences for people of all ages in order to instill a lifelong connection Bach’s music.
https://bachinbaltimore.org/