Come and join us for Bach Vespers on 25 February, at 6.30pm at the church of St Mary-at-Hill in the City of London. We’ll be performing Bach’s well-loved motet, BWV 227, Jesu, meine Freude. Bach’s church in Leipzig observed ‘tempus clausum’ during Lent, when florid music in church was not permitted. As a result, few Lent cantatas have come down to us, but Jesu meine Freude provides a powerful and moving replacement. Featuring ten singers, with continuo bass, this performance showcases Bach’s skilled five-part vocal writing. The service also features poignant German instrumental music for violin and continuo, performed on period instruments. We look forward to sharing Bach’s wonderful music with you!

Photo: Andrea Liu

Happy New Year!   We start 2024 with Bach Vespers on 28 January, 6.30pm, at the church of St Mary-at-Hill in the City of London. This service features Bach’s beautiful but rarely performed cantata, BWV 124, Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht. This work uses a concertante oboe d’amore, making it effectively an oboe d’amore concerto, and will feature our oboist extraordinaire, Geoff Coates (pictured). The text relates to the Gospel reading of the Finding in the Temple. There will be other instrumental and vocal music by German baroque composers, performed with period instruments. Do come along and bring a friend. Everyone is welcome (no need to be religious) and entry is free. We look forward to sharing Bach’s wonderful music with you.

Following Bach Vespers: 25 February, with BWV 227.

Wishing all our friends and followers a very happy Christmas!

Thanks to you all for your support and for being there to share Bach’s wonderful music.

We’ll be back in the new year, with Bach Vespers on 28 January, featuring the cantata BWV 124, Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht, at the Church of St Mary-at-Hill, at 6.30pm.

Come to the magnificent Union Chapel in Highbury on 10 December to hear City Bach Collective instrumentalists join forces with the choir Eclectic Voices for a concert of Bach’s wonderful Magnificat, directed by Scott Stroman. Soloists include Emma Kirkby and Jonathan Eyers. The programme, based around the year 1723, Bach’s first Christmas in Leipzig, includes Vivaldi’s popular concerto ‘Winter’, and Bach’s powerful motet ‘Singet dem Herrn’. The performance is at 5pm. We look forward to seeing you there!

On 3 December our instrumentalists are pleased to be joining the choir of the American International Church and their colleagues from Eclectic Voices for a performance of Bach’s festive Magnificat directed by the American Church’s music director, Scott Stroman (pictured). The service is at 11 am. All are welcome.