Breath and soul: Bach’s eloquent oboe at the Seattle Bach Festival

Visiting conductor Matthew Halls in a programme of Haydn, MacMillan and Beethoven.

A deeply stirring interpretation of Bach's St John Passion from Pacific Musicworks in Seattle. 

Christmastime comes with its musical traditions, from sing-along Messiahs to Christmas carols to Mariah Carey singing “All I Want for Christmas is You”. And there’s no denying that shouting any of the above at the top of your lungs will immediately get you into the Christmas spirit.

Pour leur cinquantième concert à la Salle Bourgie, les Violons du Roy et le chef Bernard Labadie offraient au public quatre cantates de Bach (BWV 52, 82, 84 et 58), en compagnie des solistes Lydia Teuscher (soprano) et Tyler Duncan (baryton). Le tout formait un joli bouquet dans le froid et la grisaille de dimanche à Montréal !

Once again, the BEMF brings a Baroque opera back to life. Reinhard Keiser’s 1705 Octavia is exceptionally well sung, adroitly staged, designed and danced, with impeccable musicianship.

In der Lachmuskeln strapazierenden Inszenierung formationseigenen Gilbert Blins gelingt dem BEMF ein Opernspaß, der es absolut verdient, vermehrt sein fantastisches Unwesen treiben zu dürfen.