Bach Choir of Bethlehem announces 2020-21 season
‘Season of Grace’ will celebrate career of departing conductor
Bach Choir of Bethlehem has announced its 2020-21 “Season of Grace,” which will celebrate the leadership and career of retiring Artistic Director and Conductor Greg Funfgeld.
The Choir has planned a series of virtual performances and hopes to pivot to live concerts — to mark the 113th Bethlehem Bach Festival — as soon as it is able, according to a news release.
This is Funfgeld’s 38th and final season with the choir.
“In the midst of uncertainty and much that remains unknown, I offer you this pledge — we will sing again!” Funfgeld said in the release. “We have the will to do it — we will be patient, will persevere, will be careful, thoughtful and mindful of the guidelines from experts and the government … The human voice is a miracle and a marvel — it expresses the most profound thoughts and beauty, carries the heart and soul of the singers to the heart and soul of the listeners and create a bond that is life-giving, uplifting, sustaining.”
This season also marks the final one for Executive Director Bridget George, who’s been with the choir for 24 years.
“In spite of the heartbreak of our choristers not yet being able to rehearse together, there is a great deal of optimism about the musical connections we are making this season through our virtual Moments of Comfort and Bach at Noon Watch Parties, as well as outside choral rehearsals and recordings to prepare for a virtual Christmas production full of the joy of the season,” George noted in the release.
“Our artists, students, loyal supporters, and newly discovered audiences near and far are all grateful for this opportunity to share live musicmaking together in new ways. We have great hope that this is all leading to a spectacular 113th Bach Festival in May 2021, to be shared in person with audiences from across the United States, all eager to make the pilgrimage to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and share in Greg Funfgeld’s final Festival.”
The music of Johann Sebastian Bach remains at the core of the choir’s performances — with additional repertoire from both baroque masters and significant 20th-century composers — as well as the artistry of special guests at the Festival.
Soloists this year include two artist-in-residence guests: Paul Taylor Dance Company (Festival premiere of this group during Weekend One) and Elliot Fisk, guitar, (Weekend Two). In addition to the annual performance of Bach’s Mass in B Minor, the 2021 Festival will also include the Saint Matthew Passion, presented in two parts.
The season will conclude with the postponed appearance by The Choir at the Bachfest in
Leipzig, Germany in June, 2021. Here is the 2020-21 schedule:
Bach at Noon
Second Tuesdays, 12:10-1 p.m. at Central Moravian Church, Bethlehem
This season, Bach at Noon concerts begin virtually, with fall concerts recorded live at Central Moravian Church with a small ensemble of musicians, all following the COVID-19 protocol for safety. A free-will offering will be received.
Sept. 8
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Duo Nr. 2 in B-flat Major, KV 424; Adagio – Allegro; Andante cantabile; Thema & Variazioni: Andante grazioso-AllegrettoAllegro
Elizabeth Field, violin, and Uri Wassertzug, viola
Johann Sebastian Bach Cantata 51 – “Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen”
Sherezade Panthaki, soprano, and Rob Skoniczin, trumpet
Oct. 13
110th Bach at Noon in Bethlehem
Repertoire to come
Nov. 10
Repertoire to come
Jan. 12, Feb. 9, March 9, April 13, 2021
Repertoire and performance venue (live or virtual) to come.
Please join us this season for our 115th Bethlehem Bach at Noon in April and our 20th Allentown Bach at Noon in August! Visit bach.org for complete 2020-21 Bach at Noon repertoire as it is announced.
Dec. 13, at 4 p.m.
Christmas Concert: Opening up Our Hearts – Music and Inspiration of Christmas
Virtual concert presented on YouTube and Facebook
Repertoire includes J.S. Bach: Arias from the Christmas Oratorio; Robert Parsons Ave Maria; Franz Xaver Gruber: Silent Night
Soloists include Daniel Taylor, countertenor; Lawrence Jones, tenor; Christophéren Nomura, bass-baritone; Robin Kani, flute; Greg Funfgeld, organ & piano
Feb. 28, 2021 at 3 p.m.
Greg Funfgeld Family Concert: Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
Baker Hall, Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University; Tickets: $18, Students (up to 22) $9
Benjamin Britten: Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
March 21, 2021 at 4 p.m.
Spring Concert
Dureflé and Handel: Requiem and Messiah, Part 2
First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem; Tickets: $39, Students (up to 22) $9
Soloists include Ellen McAteer, soprano; Daniel Taylor, counter-tenor; Benjamin Butterfield, tenor; Daniel Lichti, bass-baritone
May 1, 2021 at 2 p.m.
Bel Canto Spring Concert Tickets: Adult, Senior and Student $11, Children under 10 are free; Tickets purchased at the door: $15
May 14-15 and 21-22, 2021
113th Bethlehem Bach Festival
Lehigh University and Payrow Plaza, Bethlehem
Tickets: Adults $20-$58, Students $9-$20
Soloists include Sherezade Panthaki, soprano; Rosa Lamoreaux, soprano; Daniel Taylor, countertenor; Meg Bragle, mezzo-soprano; Benjamin Butterfield, tenor; Isaiah Bell, tenor; William Sharp, baritone; Dashon Burton, bass-baritone
• Festival Artist-in-Residence (Weekend One) — Paul Taylor Dance Company
• Festival Artist-in-Residence (Weekend Two) — Elliot Fisk, Guitarist
• Festival Brass Choir — Main Street Brass
• Youth Ensembles including Lehigh Valley Suzuki violin program & Bach Chaconne Project student composers
Fridays May 14 and 21, 2021
NOON: Festival Opening — Bach Outdoors
Payrow Plaza, adjacent to City Hall in downtown Bethlehem
2 p.m.: Distinguished Scholar Lecture — Dr. George Stauffer: Bach in Leipzig: The Great Passion
Zoellner Arts Center Room 145
4 p.m.: Part 1 Saint Matthew Passion
Packer Memorial Church, Lehigh University
5:45 p.m.: Buffet Dinner with informal talk — Dr. Larry Lipkis
Butz Lobby, Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University
• Dr. Lipkis is Professor of Music and Composer-in-residence at Moravian College
8 p.m.: Part 2 Saint Matthew Passion
Packer Memorial Church, Lehigh University
Saturdays, May 15 and 22, 2021
10:30 a.m.: Ifor Jones Chamber Music Concert Weekend 1
Baker Hall, Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University
Bach Festival Orchestra, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Artist-in-Residence
• Brandenburgs, Opus Number:
88 – Bach Festival premiere
• Esplanade, Opus Number: 61
• J.S. Bach Flute Sonata – Greg Funfgeld & Robin Kani
10:30 a.m.: Ifor Jones Chamber Music Concert Weekend 2
Baker Hall, Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University
Bach Festival Orchestra, Eliot Fisk, Artist-in-Residence and Chaccone Project
Baker Hall, Zoellner Arts Center
• Luigi Boccherini Concerto in E major for Guitar and Orchestra, featuring artist-inresidence, Eliot Fisk
• J. S. Bach Trio Sonata No. 5 in C Major, BWC 529 with Charlotte Mattax Moersch • Chaconne Project
12:30 p.m.: Festival Lunch Butz Lobby, Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University
2 p.m.: Bach Chorale Sing 2:30 p.m.: The Mass in B Minor (Part 1) and 4:30 p.m. (Part 2)
Packer Memorial Church, Lehigh University
Info and tickets: BACH.org, 610-866-4382 Morning Call Arts & Entertainment Editor Craig Larimer can be reached at 610-778-7993 or clarimer@mcall.com. The Morning Call relies on the support of our subscribers to fund our journalism as we continue to cover the coronavirus crisis. If you’re not already signed up, we hope you will consider subscribing. If you’re already a print subscriber and you haven’t activated your digital access, please activate your digital access today.