BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//The Bach Choir of Bethlehem - ECPv5.16.3.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:The Bach Choir of Bethlehem
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://bach.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for The Bach Choir of Bethlehem
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250329T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250329T210000
DTSTAMP:20260406T211738
CREATED:20250219T143415Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250219T153225Z
UID:12725-1743276600-1743282000@bach.org
SUMMARY:Rachmaninoff: All Night Vigil (Vespers) with Westminster Choir - Philadelphia Performance
DESCRIPTION:The Bach Choir of Bethlehem and the internationally acclaimed Westminster Choir unite to present Sergei Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil—a choral work often regarded as one of the greatest achievements in sacred music. \nComposed in 1915\, All-Night Vigil blends ancient Russian Orthodox chants with Rachmaninoff’s signature romantic harmonies. The piece’s fifteen movements reflect profound spiritual and emotional depth\, transporting listeners through the beauty of evening and morning prayers. \nMusical Highlights: \n\nThe Nunc Dimittis (Movement 5): Known for its soaring melodies and the breathtaking low B-flat in the bass line.\nEthereal Soundscape: A work of technical mastery\, requiring dynamic contrast\, vocal precision\, and rich resonance.\nRachmaninoff’s Favorite Work: All-Night Vigil was so dear to the composer that it was performed at his own funeral.\n\nFeatured soloists mezzo-soprano Luthein Brackett and tenor Steven Brennfleck will join basso profundo Glenn Miller. Known for his extraordinary vocal depth and resonance\, Miller’s commanding voice brings a remarkable richness to All-Night Vigil\, particularly in the movement Nunc Dimittis\, which demands some of the deepest choral bass notes ever written. Miller’s artistry and profound vocal range add an unparalleled depth to this already transcendent work. \nThe Westminster Choir\, founded in 1920 and renowned for its artistry\, joins us for this extraordinary performance. The choir has collaborated with leading orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra and has been shaped by a legacy of excellence in choral music. \nWith 130 voices of the combined choirs\, this performance of Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil will offer a universe of vocal sonorities—some of the most moving and transporting music ever written. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness two exceptional choirs and a world-class basso profundo come together for an unforgettable experience. \nGet Tickets  \nAbout Westminster Choir\nSetting the standard for choral excellence since 1920\, the Westminster Choir is composed of students at Westminster Choir College of Rider University. The ensemble’s 2024-2025 season includes performances with the International Contemporary Ensemble strings in works of David Lang and Caroline Shawl with the Gondwana Chorale and the New York City Children’s Chorus in New York; of Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil with the Bach Choir of Bethlehem in Philadelphia and Bethlehem\, Pennsylvania; and of Brahms’ Schicksalsied with the Princeton Symphony. Recent seasons included concert performances in Washington\, D.C.\, New York\, and Connecticut\, including the premiere of the James Whitbourn Requiem at Carnegie Hall; a concert tour of Ohio and Pennsylvania\, including a performance at the Dayton Westminster Presbyterian Church\, birthplace of the choir performances of the Mozart Requiem with the Pittsburgh Symphony; the release of the album A Serenity of Soul on the GIA Choral Works label; and Christmas at Westminster: An Evening of Readings and Carols\, seen by public television audiences nationwide in 2023 and 2024. Other recent seasons have included concert tours in Beijing\, China and Spain\, as well as participation in the World Symposium on Choral Music in Barcelona.  \nAbout the Bach Choir of Bethlehem\nFounded in 1898 and comprised of 115 dedicated volunteer singers\, the Bach Choir of Bethlehem is the oldest American Bach Choir\, performing the first complete U.S. renditions of Bach’s Mass in B Minor in 1900 and Christmas Oratorio in 1901. Under Artistic Director and Conductor Dr. Christopher Jackson\, the choir attracts thousands each year to Bethlehem\, PA for its annual Bethlehem Bach Festival. Programming includes over 40 concerts and educational events per year\, reaching an audience of more than 22\,000 through outreach programs like Bach to School\, Bach at Noon\, interdisciplinary family concerts\, and more. The choir’s latest recording\, Mendelssohn/Bach Matthäus-Passion (2024) was released by Analekta\, Canada’s largest indie classic label. The Bach Choir’s Bel Canto Youth Chorus\, an educational program under the direction of Director Kelly Rocchi\, is training the next generation of choral singers and cultivating a life-long passion for the choral arts. For more information\, visit BACH.org.  \n \nShare This:
URL:https://bach.org/event/rachmaninoff-all-night-vigil-vespers-philadelphia-performance/
LOCATION:The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul\, 18th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway\, Philadelphia\, PA\, 19103\, United States
GEO:39.9561803;-75.169115
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul 18th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway Philadelphia PA 19103 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=18th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway:geo:-75.169115,39.9561803
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR