Last night, The Choir gathered for our annual Year-End Dinner at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity.  We enjoyed a delicious meal, wonderful fellowship, and inspired words from our leaders.  A little more than a week before, we also finished the 104th Annual Bethlehem Bach Festival, as well as our second recording of the year.… Continue Reading »

One of the ancillary gifts of the process of recording a major work like the St. John Passion is that the connection between singer and music becomes ever more intimate.  With mastery of all the myriad nuances, one can really throw oneself with abandon into the drama of the work.  I sensed in this evening’s… Continue Reading »

It seems almost implausible that the recording of the choral sections of the St. John Passion could be completed in 9 hours, but, tonight, at a little after 10 pm, we finished this epic journey.  If I’m doing the math correctly, Greg, continuo organist Charlotte Mattax Moersch, and cellist Loretta O’Sullivan spent around 27 hours… Continue Reading »

We had another intense evening of recording tonight, and we’re about two-thirds of the way through the St. John Passion.   With the excellent guidance and exacting standards of our tonmeister, Martha de Francisco, and the fearless and passionate direction of our conductor par excellence, Greg Funfgeld, our interpretation of this beautiful music continues to… Continue Reading »

After a day of rest, The Choir resumed its grueling yet rewarding schedule tonight with our first of three recording sessions for the St. John Passion.  We were delighted to meet Martha de Francisco, our producer for this session, and she guided us through the process of recording the opening chorus, several turba choruses and a… Continue Reading »