Welcome to the 54th Season of Bach Vespers!
All Vespers are at 5pm unless otherwise indicated, and will be live-streamed from this page for those who cannot attend in person.
Spring 2022
February 6 Cantata 82a, “Ich habe genug”
February 13 Cantata 92, “Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn”
February 20 Cantata 181, “Leichtgesinnte Flattergeister”
February 27 Cantata 22, “Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe”
LENTEN ORGAN RECITALS
March 6 – Bálint Karosi March 13 - Gwendolyn Toth March 20 (all-BACH) - Diane Meredith Belcher
March 27 - Jennifer Pascual April 3 - Claudia Dumschat
April 17 Easter Oratorio, BWV 249
Autumn & Advent 2021
September 12 (11am) Cantata 106, “Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit”
October 31 Season Opening: Bach’s Mass in F, BWV 233
November 7 No Bach Vespers [New York City Marathon]
November 14 Cantata 60, "O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort"
November 21 Cantata 90, "Es reißet euch ein Schrecklich Ende"
November 28 Cantata 70, "Wachet! betet! betet! Wachet!"
December 5 Cantata 147, "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben"
December 12 Bach’s Magnificat, BWV 243
December 19 Lessons and Carols: Britten’s Ceremony of Carols
Since Bach Vespers is in the format of an evening prayer service, neither tickets nor reservations are required. Bach Vespers is free and open to the public. Whether you identify as faith-filled or not so sure, Lutheran or Luther-who? you are welcome to participate in the singing, prayer, and ritual only to the extent you feel comfortable doing so. Welcome. There will always be a place for you here.
| In 1968, as Holy Trinity Lutheran Church marked its 100th birthday, it set out to celebrate its history and the rich tradition of music in the Lutheran Church. Drawing from the high level of music performance in the City of New York, “Evenings with Johann S” was established, based on the ancient Christian service of Vespers. It was the first music series in the Western Hemisphere to present the cantatas of the great Lutheran composer Johann Sebastian Bach within a liturgical context. |
53 years, hundreds of performances and two Grammy nominations later, Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity continues to present Bach’s cantatas and other great Baroque and early music masterworks every Sunday evening from October to May. |
Auditions for Bach Vespers Singers & Players are unfortunately not being held in-person at this time due to continued Covid-19 concerns. Musicians experienced in historically informed performance of Bach may submit their application materials by following the instructions at the following link: holytrinitynyc.org/bachvespersauditions.
House of Time
House of Time, known for their “fluency and command” (San Francisco Classical Voice) and "fine playing, cohesiveness and creativity" (Early Music America) is dedicated to both well-known and underperformed repertoire of the 17th through the 21st century played on period instruments. Members and guests include faculty and alumni of The Juilliard School, as well as prize-winners of major international competitions. Using the instruments and techniques of the past to express the vivid passions in the music, House of Time has moved audiences and keeps them coming back for more.
Holy Trinity is excited to welcome them as our ensemble-in-residence for two concerts in the upcoming season, on November 19th and May 6th.
WATCH PAST VESPERS SERVICES
Lessons & Carols, Britten Ceremony of Carols ~ December 19, 2021 at 5:00pm EST
Bach's Magnificat, BWV 243 ~ December 12, 2021 at 5:00pm EST
Cantata 147 "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben" ~ December 5, 2021 at 5:00pm EST
featuring "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"
Cantata 70 "Wachet! betet! betet! Wachet!" ~ November 28, 2021 at 5:00pm EST
Cantata 90 "Es reißet euch ein schrecklich Ende" ~ November 21, 2021 at 5:00pm EST
Cantata 60 "O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort" ~ November 14, 2021 at 5:00pm EST
Motet, "Selig sind die Toten" by Josef Rheinberger
BWV 233, Mass in F Major ~ October 31, 2021 at 5:00pm EDT
EASTER BACH VESPERS ~ April 4, 2021 at 5:00pm EDT
Cantata 4, "Christ lag in Todesbanden" by Johann Sebastian Bach
Motet, "Regina caeli" by Gregor Aichinger; Psalm 114 by Heinrich Schütz; Magnificat by Daniel Bollius
Organ Voluntaries by Heinrich Bach, Georg Böhm, and Johann Sebastian Bach