Bach in Baltimore Welcomes 2020 with Music

Bach in Baltimore announced today a trio of concerts to welcome in the new year. The first performance is on Wednesday, January 1 at 4 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, located at 7308 York Rd. in Towson. Then, less than a week later, Bach in Baltimore performs on Sunday, January 5 at 4 p.m. at Church of the Redeemer, located at 5603 N. Charles Street in Baltimore. Additionally, Bach in Baltimore performs an instrumental concert on Sunday, February 2 at 4 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, located at 3604 Chatham Rd. in Ellicott City. These three concerts feature some of the very best music to come out of the Baroque era, including Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Part V and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5.

The New Year’s Day Celebration Concert on January 1 is a much-cherished tradition for Bach in Baltimore and the community. The afternoon instrumental concert features beloved Baroque favorites hand-selected by our first chair instrumentalists: Kim Valerio, flute; Sandra Lisicky, oboe; Ronald Mutchnik, violin; Gretchen Gettes, cello; Bozena Jedrzejczak Brown, harpsichord; Mel Wilhoit, trumpet; and Maestro T. Herbert Dimmock, organ.

The new year’s revelries continue on January 5 with Winter Lights Concert with Bach’s cantata for the new year, Christmas Oratorio, Part V. This work opens with a timpani encouraging the rest of the orchestra to “wake up.” The flutes, oboe, and strings join the timpani, followed by the chorus in a celebration of triumphant sound. The piece closes with a chorale that sings, “Now the rays of the sun are full of dazzling light and splendor,” which is a wonderful way to usher in 2020. The afternoon concert concludes with neo-Baroque composer Tomaso Albinoni’s innovative Oboe Concerto Opus 9, No. 2, which is considered the first Italian work for the oboe, an emerging instrument in the early eighteenth century. The featured vocalists for this concert include Kerry Holahan, soprano; Janna Critz, alto; Kyle Tomlin, tenor; Ross Tamaccio, bass; and Calvert Hall College High School Choir, Student Voice Exchange Choir.

The Midwinter Baroque Daydream Concert on February 2 includes four extraordinary works to come out of the Baroque. The dynamic concert opens with Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, followed by Telemann’s masterpiece Tafelmusik I: Ouverture in E minor, and Bach’s unique Concerto for two harpsichords. We conclude with Bach’s son and Telemann’s godson, C.P.E. Bach’s Cello Concerto in A minor. The featured artists for this instrumental concert are Bozena Jedrzejczak Brown, harpsichord and Wayne L. Wold, organ.

Admission for each of these concerts is $25 in advance or $27 at the door. Tickets for this and all Bach in Baltimore events are available for purchase at BachinBaltimore.orgor by calling 410-941-9262. Individual tickets are also available at the door 30 minutes prior to a performance. Child and student tickets are also available for purchase at the door--$5 Children 5-12 / $10 Children 12-18 and full-time students with ID. Please note that Bach in Baltimore’s performance venues vary—we perform all across the greater Baltimore metropolitan area.

JANUARY – FEBRUARY CONCERTS

FIRST SUNDAY CONCERT SERIES
New Year’s Day Celebration
Wednesday, January 1 at 4.m.
Central Presbyterian Church, Towson

Kim Valerio, flute
Sandra Lisicky, oboe
Ronald Mutchnik, violin
Gretchen Gettes, cello
Bozena Jedrzejczak Brown, harpsichord
Mel Wilhoit, trumpet
Maestro T. Herbert Dimmock, organ

Greet the dawn of 2020 with old and new friends at our annual New Year’s Day Celebration, featuring Baroque instrumental favorites selected by our beloved first chair musicians on flute, oboe, cello, and harpsichord. Maestro T. Herbert Dimmock will also join the celebration on the organ. There is no better way to welcome the new year!

Tickets: $25 Regular / $27 Door

FIRST SUNDAY CONCERT SERIES
Winter Lights
January 5 at 4 p.m.
Church of the Redeemer, Baltimore

Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Part V: Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen
Bach’s Cantata 153: Schau, lieber Gott, wie meine Feind
Albinoni’s Oboe Concerto Opus 9, No. 2

Kerry Holahan, Soprano
Janna Critz, Alto
Kyle Tomlin, Tenor
Ross Tamaccio, Bass

The holidays may be over, but that doesn’t mean the good cheer needs to end. Enjoy a festive concert including the exuberant Bach Christmas Oratorio Part V: Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen, and passionate Bach Cantata 153: Schau, lieber Gott, wie meine Feind¸ a striking cantata that opens with a lively four-part chorale. We conclude the afternoon celebration of music with neo-Baroque composer Tomaso Albinoni’s innovative Oboe Concerto Opus 9, No. 2, considered the first Italian work for the oboe, an emerging instrument in the early eighteenth century.

Tickets: $25 Regular / $27 Door

FIRST SUNDAY CONCERT SERIES
Midwinter Baroque Daydream
February 2 at 4 p.m.
First Lutheran Church, Ellicott City

Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5
Telemann’s Tafelmusik I: Ouverture in E minor
C.P.E. Bach’s Cello Concerto in A minor
Bach’s Concerto for two harpsichords

The Baroque period ushered into being some of the greatest instrumental music of all time—intricate, robust, and innovative sounds that lift the soul, unburden the mind, and burst with joy. Our Midwinter Baroque Daydream offers you an afternoon escape from winter’s chill with the best of the best, including Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, which with be paired with Telemann’s masterpiece Tafelmusik I: Ouverture in E minor and Bach’s unique Concerto for two harpsichords. We conclude with Bach’s son and Telemann’s godson, C.P.E. Bach’s Cello Concerto in A minor.

Tickets: $20 Early Bird / $25 Regular / $27 Door

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 to instill a lifelong connection with Bach’s music.