PERFORMANCE

The Director’s Series

About the Series

The Washington Bach Consort’s beloved Director’s Series offers five magnificent concerts in the majestic spaces of National Presbyterian Church and the state-of-the-art Music Center at Strathmore—featuring our world-class vocal and instrumental ensembles and an array of star soloists. Before each performance, take advantage of our insightful Talking Bach lecture series presented by the renowned Bach scholar, Dr. Michael Marissen. After the concert, join us for a complimentary reception and meet the artists in person.

 

National Presbyterian Church, 4101 Nebraska Avenue NW, Washington, DC

Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Ln, North Bethesda, MD 20852

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

Bach Motets

Bach’s Motets
The Singers’ Favorite!

Sunday, November 12, 2023 at 4 p.m.

National Presbyterian Church
Washington, DC

The Bach Motets, featuring BWV 225–230

MORE ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE
Audiences love to hear any one of Bach’s iconic motets in a live performance, but to hear all of them in one evening is a revelation. Bach’s vocal-ensemble writing is legendary among singers, artfully bringing to life the rhetorical substance of his musical and theological convictions. A valuable part of Bach’s oeuvre, the motets together capture the full range of connection between text, music, and faith.

Running time: TBA

Join us for Talking Bach at 3 p.m. The series of free pre-concert lectures by noted Bach scholar, Michael Marissen, are presented one hour before Director’s Series performances. Learn More»

Shannon & Jim Davis, underwriters

SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS

Subscriptions to the 2023–2024 Season are on sale now!

Subscriptions are currently on sale to the general public. The 2023–24 season, opening Sunday, September 22, features five large scale subscription concerts at some of the region’s finest venues and eight chamber series concerts on Friday evenings at Live! at 10th & G and on Saturday evenings at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

We’ve made it easier than ever to purchase a subscription series of three or more concerts at any time by clicking here or by calling the office.

Director’s Series concerts include admission to a pre-concert lecture; seating is limited and first-come, first-served.

A subscription to the Washington Bach Consort allows you to enjoy performances throughout the season, including the Director’s Series and the Chamber Series at a discount off the single ticket price.

Priority Seating

Subscribers receive first choice in seat selection.

Additional Tickets

Wish to bring guests? Subscribers may purchase additional tickets throughout the season at the discounted subscription rate.

Ticket Exchange

If unable to attend a performance, subscribers may exchange tickets for another concert during the season.

Ticket Donations

Prior to a performance, subscribers may return tickets marked “donated” and receive a receipt for tax purposes for the value of the tickets.

Season Kick-off

Subscribers will receive an invitation to our season kick-off, featuring insights, musical illustrations and refreshments.

Pay Your Age 18-38!

Now get the seats of your dreams at a fraction of the price—your own age! 27 years old? Pay $27 It’s that easy!

Dr. Dana T. Marsh

The Christmas Story
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio: Parts 1, 2, 5 and 6

Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.

Music Center at Strathmore
North Bethesda, MD

Johann Sebastian Bach
Weihnachtsoratorium, BWV 248

Single tickets are available on Strathmore’s website only.

Soloists:

Amy Broadbent

Amy Broadbent
soprano

Sylvia Leith

Sylvia Leith
alto

Thomas Cooley

Thomas Cooley
tenor and Evangelist

Dashon Burton

Dashon Burton
bass

MORE ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE
The Bach Consort returns to the Music Center at Strathmore for what The Washington Post has called a “splendid” and “joyful” holiday performance of Christmas Oratorio. Of all such seasonal examples, this work is uniquely focused on the complete drama of the Nativity. The Consort offers this beloved European tradition every year with an all-star cast of soloists.

Vocalists:

Amy Broadbent, soprano; Sylvia Leith, alto; Thomas Cooley, tenor and Evangelist; Dashon Burton, bass

Running time: TBA

Join us for Talking Bach at 6 p.m. The series of free pre-concert lectures by noted Bach scholar, Michael Marissen, are presented one hour before Director’s Series performances. Learn More»

Mary Ann Gardner, Sally Wells, and National Endowment for the Arts, underwriters

SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS

Subscriptions to the 2023–2024 Season are on sale now!

Subscriptions are currently on sale to the general public. The 2023–24 season, opening Sunday, September 22, features five large scale subscription concerts at some of the region’s finest venues and eight chamber series concerts on Friday evenings at Live! at 10th & G and on Saturday evenings at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

We’ve made it easier than ever to purchase a subscription series of three or more concerts at any time by clicking here or by calling the office.

Director’s Series concerts include admission to a pre-concert lecture; seating is limited and first-come, first-served.

A subscription to the Washington Bach Consort allows you to enjoy performances throughout the season, including the Director’s Series and the Chamber Series at a discount off the single ticket price.

Priority Seating

Subscribers receive first choice in seat selection.

Additional Tickets

Wish to bring guests? Subscribers may purchase additional tickets throughout the season at the discounted subscription rate.

Ticket Exchange

If unable to attend a performance, subscribers may exchange tickets for another concert during the season.

Ticket Donations

Prior to a performance, subscribers may return tickets marked “donated” and receive a receipt for tax purposes for the value of the tickets.

Season Kick-off

Subscribers will receive an invitation to our season kick-off, featuring insights, musical illustrations and refreshments.

Pay Your Age 18-38!

Now get the seats of your dreams at a fraction of the price—your own age! 27 years old? Pay $27 It’s that easy!

The Resurrection of Christ by Charles de La Fosse

Te Deum
Sacred Grand Motets of Lully and Charpentier

Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 4:00 P.M.

National Presbyterian Church
Washington, DC

Sacred Grand Motets of Jean-Baptiste Lully and Marc-Antoine Charpentier
Te Deum, H.146

Soloists:

Margaret Carpenter Haigh

Margaret Carpenter Haigh
soprano

Margot Rood

Margot Rood
soprano

James Reese

James Reese
haute-contre

Gregorio Taniguchi

Gregório Taniguchi
tenor

Ian Pomerantz

Ian Pomerantz
bass

Paul Max Tipton

Paul Max Tipton
bass

MORE ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE
J.S. Bach drew from the best of a variety of established European musical styles and combined them in his own unique voice. This concert will highlight influential composers of the French Baroque, featuring sacred grand motets of Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632–1687) and MarcAntoine Charpentier (1643–1704). Charpentier’s magnificent Te Deum will head a list of exquisite works that reflect the magnificence of French courtly and ecclesiastical grandeur.

Margaret Carpenter Haigh, soprano
Margot Rood, soprano
James Reese, haute-contre
Gregório Taniguchi, tenor
Ian Pomerantz, bass
Paul Max Tipton, bass

Running time: TBA

Join us for Talking Bach at 3 p.m. The series of free pre-concert lectures by noted Bach scholar, Michael Marissen, are presented one hour before Director’s Series performances. Learn More»

Helen H. McConnell, underwriters

SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS

Subscriptions to the 2023–2024 Season are on sale now!

Subscriptions are currently on sale to the general public. The 2023–24 season, opening Sunday, September 22, features five large scale subscription concerts at some of the region’s finest venues and eight chamber series concerts on Friday evenings at Live! at 10th & G and on Saturday evenings at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

We’ve made it easier than ever to purchase a subscription series of three or more concerts at any time by clicking here or by calling the office.

Director’s Series concerts include admission to a pre-concert lecture; seating is limited and first-come, first-served.

A subscription to the Washington Bach Consort allows you to enjoy performances throughout the season, including the Director’s Series and the Chamber Series at a discount off the single ticket price.

Priority Seating

Subscribers receive first choice in seat selection.

Additional Tickets

Wish to bring guests? Subscribers may purchase additional tickets throughout the season at the discounted subscription rate.

Ticket Exchange

If unable to attend a performance, subscribers may exchange tickets for another concert during the season.

Ticket Donations

Prior to a performance, subscribers may return tickets marked “donated” and receive a receipt for tax purposes for the value of the tickets.

Season Kick-off

Subscribers will receive an invitation to our season kick-off, featuring insights, musical illustrations and refreshments.

Pay Your Age 18-38!

Now get the seats of your dreams at a fraction of the price—your own age! 27 years old? Pay $27 It’s that easy!

National Presbyterian Church

Haydn’s Die Schöpfung
The Creation: from Genesis to Milton’s Paradise Lost

Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 4:00 P.M.

National Presbyterian Church
Washington, DC

Joseph Haydn
Die Schöpfung, Hob. XXI:2

Soloists:

Michele Kennedy

Michele Kennedy
soprano

Thomas Cooley

Thomas Cooley
tenor

Edmund Milly

Edmund Milly
bass

MORE ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE
Completed five decades after Bach’s death, Die Schöpfung (The Creation) offers a significant milestone in the development of the oratorio genre. Strongly influenced by Handel’s definitive examples of the high Baroque, Haydn’s Creation conveys Gottfried van Swieten’s German libretto in sharp musical focus, with vivid characterizations of the creation story described in the book of Genesis. Beginning with the captivating orchestral representation of Chaos, we experience a world brought into beautiful order in seven days, culminating with the union of Adam and Eve. This epic work is best experienced live, sung in the language of its premiere performance (German) and played on period instruments of the Classical era, allowing for the deepest possible level of connection with the musical drama.

Michele Kennedy, soprano
Thomas Cooley, tenor
Edmund Milly, bass

Running time: TBA

Join us for Talking Bach at 3 p.m. The series of free pre-concert lectures by noted Bach scholar, Michael Marissen, are presented one hour before Director’s Series performances. Learn More»

SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS

Subscriptions to the 2023–2024 Season are on sale now!

Subscriptions are currently on sale to the general public. The 2023–24 season, opening Sunday, September 22, features five large scale subscription concerts at some of the region’s finest venues and eight chamber series concerts on Friday evenings at Live! at 10th & G and on Saturday evenings at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

We’ve made it easier than ever to purchase a subscription series of three or more concerts at any time by clicking here or by calling the office.

Director’s Series concerts include admission to a pre-concert lecture; seating is limited and first-come, first-served.

A subscription to the Washington Bach Consort allows you to enjoy performances throughout the season, including the Director’s Series and the Chamber Series at a discount off the single ticket price.

Priority Seating

Subscribers receive first choice in seat selection.

Additional Tickets

Wish to bring guests? Subscribers may purchase additional tickets throughout the season at the discounted subscription rate.

Ticket Exchange

If unable to attend a performance, subscribers may exchange tickets for another concert during the season.

Ticket Donations

Prior to a performance, subscribers may return tickets marked “donated” and receive a receipt for tax purposes for the value of the tickets.

Season Kick-off

Subscribers will receive an invitation to our season kick-off, featuring insights, musical illustrations and refreshments.

Pay Your Age 18-38!

Now get the seats of your dreams at a fraction of the price—your own age! 27 years old? Pay $27 It’s that easy!

Registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 52-1107948