Chicago’s Bach in the City, under the direction of music director Richard Webster, is set to debut its 2025-2026 concert season with a refreshing perspective on Baroque music.
This new season will feature a series of three programs that highlight the use of period instruments, marking a significant shift from the modern-instrument approach that characterized its predecessor, the Chicago area’s Bach Week Festival.
“We are fully committed to period instruments,” Webster notes, emphasizing that this is not a mere continuation of past practices but rather a bold new direction for the organization.
The upcoming season kicks off on October 3 with a concert titled “Music in Heaven’s Castle,” referencing the Himmelsburg castle church in Germany, where J.S. Bach premiered a groundbreaking sacred cantata.
In addition to Bach’s works, the program will also feature compositions by Georg Philipp Telemann and Georg Muffat, offering audiences a diverse experience of Baroque music.
Following the opening concert, a chamber concert titled “Bach’s Musical World” is scheduled for January 11, where attendees can expect to hear two of Telemann’s “Paris Quartets” alongside trios by Bach, Dieterich Buxtehude, and George Frideric Handel.
The culmination of the season will showcase the Chicago premiere of the recently reconstructed version of J.S. Bach’s lost St. Mark Passion, BWV 247, composed by British musicologist Malcolm Bruno on March 20.
Webster has taken on the task of adding speech-like recitatives and crowd choruses to the reconstruction, facilitating what he believes will be a historic performance in Chicago.
“To the best of our knowledge, this will be the first time any version of the St. Mark Passion has been presented in Chicago,” Webster affirms with excitement.
Bach in the City has also appointed Jason J. Moy as the associate music director, who will collaborate with Webster in leading the organization.
Moy, an accomplished harpsichordist and early music specialist, is a professor at DePaul University’s School of Music and has considerable experience from his time as principal keyboardist at the former Bach Week Festival.
“It’s a very exciting, wonderful opportunity,” Moy expressed regarding his new role, and it’s clear that he will bring a significant creative influence to the new programming.
Webster attests to Moy’s contributions, highlighting his creativity and musicianship, and reaffirming the organization’s commitment to not only period instruments but also to providing platforms for emerging young artists.
Among these rising stars is countertenor Marco Rivera Rosa, a Honduran-born singer who has performed professionally since high school.
Rivera Rosa will be featured as the soloist in a Bach cantata at the season-opening concert.
The inaugural concert, “Music in Heaven’s Castle,” will begin at 7:30 p.m. on October 3 at St. Vincent De Paul Church in Chicago.
This historic venue is praised for its resonant acoustics and visual appeal, enhancing the audience’s connection to the performers.
Moy elaborated on the concert’s theme, noting that one of Bach’s significant works during his time at Himmelsburg was Cantata No. 54, “Widerstehe doch der Sünde,” which will be performed by Rivera Rosa.
Moy explained that the cantata opens with a shockingly dissonant introduction that powerfully conveys the theme of resisting sin.
The concert will also include Telemann’s Overture Suite in D Major, which promises a lively and festive atmosphere with its vibrant dance movements.
Additionally, the well-loved Concerto in C Major for three harpsichords, BWV 1064, will feature intricate dialogues among the keyboardists, Moy, Webster, and Jacob Reed.
This work pays homage to the Bach Week Festival’s legacy, recalling the festival’s inaugural concert featuring Bach’s concerto for four harpsichords.
Bach’s Violin Concerto in A Minor, BWV 1041, known for its fiery opening and contemplative middle movement, will also be part of the program, highlighting the virtuosity of soloist Emily Nebel.
Muffat’s Sonata No. 5 from “Armonico Tributo” will showcase a lush, five-part string orchestra configuration, reflecting the influences of French and Italian styles that were prevalent during the Baroque era.
On January 11, the concert “Bach’s Musical World” will feature a more intimate setting in Allen Recital Hall at DePaul University’s Holtschneider Performance Center.
This program will open with one of Telemann’s “Paris Quartets,” which will be performed alongside works by Buxtehude and Handel, providing a rich tapestry of Baroque music.
The concert promises an engaging experience, showcasing the evolution of Baroque music and its interconnections.
The January concert will also include Bach’s deeply expressive Violin Sonata No. 1, highlighting the dynamic interplay between the violin and the harpsichord.
The final concert of the season will present what is believed to be the first-ever Chicago performance of any version of J.S. Bach’s St. Mark Passion.
On March 20, attendees can expect a groundbreaking presentation featuring Malcolm Bruno’s reconstruction of this lost masterpiece, combined with Webster’s compositions to complete the piece.
Bruno’s version of St. Mark Passion, which is based on a libretto from 1731, received high praise during its New York premiere earlier this year.
Webster expressed his enthusiasm, describing the performance as electrifying and a prime example of the power of Baroque music.
In this performance, soloists will include soprano Hannah De Priest, countertenor Ryan Belongie, tenor Oliver Camacho, and bass David McFerrin, complemented by the 40-plus member Bach in the City Chorus.
Tickets for Bach in the City’s debut 2025-2026 season are priced at $45 for VIP admission, $30 for adult general admission, $25 for seniors, and just $10 for students who present valid ID.
Discounted bundled tickets are also available for those looking to attend multiple concerts throughout the season.
Tickets will go on sale starting July 15, paving the way for audiences to enjoy this groundbreaking season of Baroque music with a fresh perspective.
image source from：broadwayworld
