European Christmas. Bach’s Mass in B minor
“High Mass” by Johann Sebastian Bach is one of the most prominent opuses of classical music of all times – a large-scale mass with traditional Latin texts, monumental expansion and deep unfolding of the content. After having listened to this music, one feels like having mounted the roof of the highest and most beautiful cathedral, with the eternal sky over the head and life saturated with happiness.
The performance will feature the participation of Inga Šļubovska and Viesturs Jansons, soloists of the Latvian National Opera, Ieva Ezeriete, soloist of the Latvian Radio Choir, owner of a most wonderful voice Sergejs Jēgers, and the competent bass Pauls Putniņš from England, of the State Academic Choir Latvia and the Baroque Orchestra Collegium musicum Rīga playing historical instruments. Simon Murphy will be the conductor of the performance.
Simon Murphy was born in Australia in 1973, and he lives in the Netherlands. He is a viola player and a conductor, an internationally acclaimed and demanded specialist of the 18th an 19th century music. Since 2002, he is the art director and the main conductor of the Hague Baroque Orchestra. Murphy has performed in concert halls such as Concertgebow of Amsterdam, the Palace of Fine Arts in Brussels, has conducted in the Festival of Flanders, Utrech Festival, Handel’s Festival in Hull (UK), Bach’s Festival in Leipzig, Roma Europa Festival, etc. Simon Murphy’s especially focuses on the composers of the so-called Mannheim school. He willingly conducts opuses by Beethoven, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Stamitz. Murphy still performs also as a solo viola player and chamber musician. He has performed in a concert series in the Bach’s week in Türingen and in Bach’s Festival in Leipzig. Simon Murphy is recognized in Europe, the USA, Canada, Russia, Asia and Australia.
Programme
Johann Sebastian Bach Mass in B minor
Participants
Ieva Ezeriete, soprano
Inga Šļubovska, soprano
Sergejs Jēgers, countertenor
Viesturs Jansons, tenor
Pauls Putniņš, bass
State Choir Latvija
Baroque Orchestra Collegium Musicum Rīga
Conductor Simon Murphy