WRTI is proud to bring you a very special Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcast on Sunday, June 28th from 1 to 4 PM on WRTI 90.1, and Monday, June 29th from 7 to 10 PM on WRTI HD-2. The Orchestra presented the Mass in B minor by Johann Sebastian Bach, conducted by Yannick Nézét-Séguin, in December, 2019 for the first time in nearly 35 years. We'll hear this re-broadcast together this week!
Performances of the entire Mass are a rarity. Bach composed the music in separate parts for specific purposes over the course of decades, and at the very end of his life he wrote the necessary remaining sections to create a complete setting of the Latin liturgy. It’s a magnificent work that represents a summation of Bach’s achievements with sacred music, composed over many years, and displaying diverse musical styles.
The four soloists in this performance,—all equally at home on concert and opera stages—are some of the finest Baroque artists in the world today: English soprano Carolyn Sampson, who has enjoyed notable successes in the UK as well as throughout Europe and the U.S.; Scottish mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill, who made her Philadelphia Orchestra debut in 2013, and was the 2002 winner of the Kathleen Ferrier Award; tenor Jonas Hacker, a grand finalist of the 2016 Met Opera Auditions; and baritone Benjamin Appl, who makes his Philadelphia Orchestra debut with this performance.
Yannick and The Philadelphia Orchestra are once again joined by the choristers of the Westminster Symphonic Choir, which notably made its Philadelphia Orchestra debut in 1934 in—you guessed it—Bach’s Mass in B minor, with Leopold Stokowski conducting!
Before intermission, Part I will be performed – from the Kyrie to Cum Sancto Spiritu, and after the break we’ll hear Parts II, III, and IV.
During intermission, WRTI’s Susan Lewis speaks backstage with Yannick and Westminster Choir Director Joe Miller, and Bliss Michelson chats with soprano Carolyn Sampson in her dressing room.
Don’t miss this very special event, the complete Mass in B minor by J.S. Bach, on Sunday, June 28th from 1 to 4 PM on WRTI 90.1, and streaming worldwide at wrti.org! Read detailed program notes from the concert here.
PROGRAM:
J.S. Bach's Mass in B minor, BWV 232
I. Missa
1. Kyrie (Chorus)
2. Christe (Soprano and Alto)
3. Kyrie (Chorus)
4a. Gloria (Chorus)
4b. Et in terra pax (Chorus)
5. Laudamus te (Alto)
6. Gratias agimus tibi (Chorus)
7a. Domine Deus (Soprano and Tenor)
7b. Qui tollis (Chorus)
8. Qui sedes (Alto)
9a. Quoniam tu solus sanctus (Bass)
9b. Cum Sancto Spiritu (Chorus)
INTERMISSION
II. Symbolum Nicenum
10. Credo in unum Deum (Chorus)
11. Patrem omnipotentem (Chorus)
12. Et in unum Dominum (Soprano and Alto)
13. Et incarnatus est (Chorus)
14. Crucifixus (Chorus)
15. Et resurrexit (Chorus)
16. Et in Spiritum sanctum (Bass)
17a. Confiteor (Chorus)
17b. Et expecto (Chorus)
III. Sanctus
18a. Sanctus (Chorus)
18b. Pleni sunt coeli (Chorus)
IV. Osanna, Benedictus, Agnus Dei et Dona nobis pacem
19. Osanna in excelsis (Chorus)
20. Benedictus (Tenor)
21. Osanna repetatur (Chorus)
22. Agnus Dei (Alto)
23. Dona nobis pacem (Chorus)
- Continuo: Peter Richard Conte, organ; Davyd Booth, harpsichord; Hai-Ye Ni, cello; Harold Robinson, bass
Carolyn Sampson, soprano
Karen Cargill, mezzo-soprano
Jonas Hacker, tenor
Benjamin Appl, baritone
Westminster Symphonic Choir
Joe Miller, Director
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Yannick Nézét-Séguin, Conductor
Gregg Whiteside is producer and host of the Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcasts, every Sunday at 1 PM on WRTI 90.1, streaming online at WRTI.org, and on our mobile app! Listen again on Mondays at 7 PM on WRTI HD-2
