This celebratory opening event uniquely commemorates the 300th anniversary of four of Bach’s finest cantatas, highlighting the rarely performed Dramma per Musica, “Zerreißet, zersprenget, zertrümmert,” commissioned in 1725 by the University of Leipzig with a classical text adapted by Picander, Bach’s longtime collaborator and librettist. The affective range of expression achieved across these works is astonishing, revealing Bach in ways that our audience will experience live for the first time!
Gott, der Herr ist Sonn und Schild, BWV 79
Ihr werdet weinen und heulen, BWV 103
Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten, BWV 74
Dramma per Musica: Zerreißet, zersprenget, zertrümmert die Gruft, BWV 205
Elijah McCormack, soprano
Reginald Mobley, alto
Andrew Bearden Brown, tenor
Edward Vogel, bass