Seattle Symphony: Bach's Mass in B minor

Dorothee Mields, soprano
Avery Amereau, alto
Kenneth Tarver, tenor
Andreas Wolf, bass-baritone
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Seattle Symphony Chorale

Johan Sebastian Bach – Mass in B minor, BWV 232

When Bach assembled the B-minor Mass in his final years, he crystallized his lifelong mission to express faith through music into one staggering compendium of intellectual and spiritual exaltation. Thunderous fugues and brilliant choruses wrest maximal impact from the combined forces of choir and orchestra, while focused solos for voices and their instrumental companions rival any opera in terms of tenderness and dramatic presence. The Mass is not a singular object; it is a synthesis of Bach’s music going back 35 years, built upon techniques and trends developed over centuries. The B-minor Mass is a pillar of human achievement on par with Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling or Shakespeare’s collection of plays, and to witness it live is quite simply an essential life experience.

The Seattle Symphony invites young people ages 8 to 18 to attend most Delta Air Lines Masterworks, Seattle Pops, and Untuxed series performances FREE with the purchase of an adult ticket. Family Connections tickets are available at the time of adult ticket purchase by phone and in-person only at the Seattle Symphony Ticket Office. For more information, visit the Seattle Symphony Family Connections page.

About Seattle Symphony

Recognized as one of the “most vital American orchestras” (NPR), the Seattle Symphony is internationally acclaimed for its inventive programming, community-minded initiatives, and superb recordings on the Seattle Symphony Media label. With a strong commitment to new music and a legacy of over 150 recordings, the orchestra has garnered five Grammy Awards, 26 Grammy nominations, and two Emmy Awards, and was named Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year. The Symphony performs in Benaroya Hall in the heart of downtown Seattle.

About Seattle Symphony Chorale

https://www.seattlesymphony.org/chorale