Expanding musical horizons

After a good weekend with the Hobsons, I left on the train on Sunday afternoon so that I could attend another concert in Davis that evening. This was "Bach's Birthday Celebration", and was my risk-taking event when I booked various concerts, etc. at the UC Davis Mondavi Center. Perhaps some explanation is required!

As a general rule, I have found that I don't enjoy classical music which involves singing (Handel's Messiah is a notable exception) — opera leaves me cold. So, booking for a concert of choral Bach music was a bit of a gamble.

Well, the gamble paid off — the concert was superb! It was put on by the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra, which has a HUGE choir (there must have been well over a hundred singers). They also had four soloists (I though the bass was a bit weak, but the other three were very good), and a very good sized orchestra.

The programme included:

• The Magnificat
  
• Lutheran Mass No. 4 in G Major
  
• St. John Passion (excerpts)
  
• Cantata #11 (Excerpt)
  
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
  
• Komm Suesser Tod
  

The last song was written by a Norwegian composer in honour of Bach: a lovely a capella song in a Bach-like style.