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CONTACTS:  
Jennifer Weismann  
612-716-0556  
Jennifer@owl-marketing.com  
 
Randi Ericksen 
612-440-6219 
randi@bachsocietymn.org

CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH BACH’S CHRISTMAS ORATORIO AT THE BASILICA 
VocalEssence and The Bach Society of Minnesota team up to perform holiday masterwork—December 3 

MINNEAPOLIS—September 17, 2021—The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and the Bach Society of Minnesota (BSM) will collaborate on a concert performance of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in a stunning setting, at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis, on Friday, December 3. 

The Baroque composer’s musical retelling of the traditional Christmas story, from the birth of Jesus through the journey of the shepherds and the adoration of the Wise Men, will come alive with the Ensemble Singers and Bach Society orchestra, with Philip Brunelle of VocalEssence and Matthias Maute of the Bach Society of Minnesota conducting. Images are available here. 

“We are thrilled to have the sublime environment of the Basilica of Saint Mary as our venue for this exciting, joyful performance,” says VocalEssence founder and artistic director Philip Brunelle. “Bach’s Christmas Oratorio fully explores the range of emotions and experiences surrounding the miracle of Christ’s birth. To perform them in this sacred space of overwhelming beauty with the talented musicians of the Bach Society is the most magnificent Christmas present imaginable.”  

“The Bach Society of Minnesota is happy and proud to collaborate with VocalEssence and Philip Brunelle,” says Matthias Maute, artistic director of the Bach Society of Minnesota. “It will be a feast and a celebration for all the musicians and singers…and the audience!” 

Bach’s Christmas Oratorio will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 3 at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis. Tickets are available as part of a 2021-22 Concert Series Subscription. Single tickets go on sale on Thursday, September 16, 2021, and range in price from $20 to $40. A video recording of this concert will also be available to watch online later in December. www.vocalessence.org.  

Bach Society of Minnesota (BSM) celebrates its 90th year this season! Founded in 1932, BSM was one of the first organizations on this continent to take the legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach as a starting point for world-class performance, and we continue in that spirit today.  Under the artistic direction of Matthias Maute, BSM brings fresh perspectives and collaborations to build a diverse community of music lovers who perform, promote, and appreciate the music of J.S. Bach and those he inspired. For more information, visit bachsocietymn.org.

VocalEssence, the choral ensemble Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones says “sings magnificently,” reaches thousands of students, singers, and composers each year through its learning and engagement programs, contests, and support for innovative art. VocalEssence was founded in 1969 and has debuted more than 300 commissions and world premieres. For more information, visit www.vocalessence.org.    

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