Here are a few reasons that I think the Cantata Singers’ performance of the Bach B Minor Mass (Friday night and Sunday afternoon) is worth the price of admission.
- “Gratias”
- “Dona Nobis Pacem”; same as above, but with a bigger payoff
- The bass section’s virtuosic rendering of “Et iterum venturus est”
- “Confiteor” (OK, David, you convinced me)
- Piccolo trumpets!
I’m also looking forward to the great, dramatic tension of the performance. Not Mr. Bach’s drama–our own personal variety. For instance:
- Will the soloists be able to cross the stage without colliding?
- Will the horn player sustain his unblemished record of not splattering the high notes?
- Will the tempo in the “Cum Sancto” be caffeinato or molto caffeinato?
- Will the oboists finish their crossword puzzles before curtain time?
- At what point will I be so carried away by the music that I whack the organist in the head with my folder?
Come and join us Friday night, 3/18 or Sunday afternoon, 3/20; both performances at Jordan Hall.
—by caradmer
Bonnie
caradmer
exploigorsky
flaneur82
Cantata Singers
Majie
Mary MacDonald
-CH
Mary Beth
Thanks for this delightful post, C. I’d say Friday night was a smashing success.
Did you smash the organist in the head? I thought we were only at caffeinato, but I heard others thought it was actually molto caffeinato. Can’t wait for Sunday!
Someone had the good sense to move the organist forward a few inches, so he was no longer in peril from me. I like to think that either the stage manager or the organist himself read my post and reacted accordingly.
As for the Cum Sancto, from where I stood it felt like molto! Can’t wait to get another shot at it on Sunday.
I nearly got the second trumpet, but will try to watch that on Sunday. Both these posts — Bonnie’s play-by-play and Catherine’s romp/tout/quiz — are terrific. I’m enlightened and entertained and looking forward to tomorrow all the more.