Bach Cantatas in the Back Bay, a Hidden Gem, a 47-Year Tradition

BOSTON │Long before Newbury Street became a mecca for high-heeled fashionistas and gourmands, Emmanuel Church dominated the first block of Back Bay’s fashionable shopping district. In the nearly 160 years that have passed, the church has retained its original pioneering spirit, by providing outreach programs and service to the broader community beyond the families that originally worshipped in its soaring sanctuary. A women’s shelter, a homeless refuge, a place for recovering alcoholics to meet and heal – the confines of the church have long been a home for all.

For the last 47 years, Emmanuel Church and Emmanuel Music under the direction of Ryan Turner, have also provided a sanctuary for what is arguably Johann Sebastian Bach’s most significant and celebrated compositions, the Bach cantatas. Nearly every Sunday (from September to May), the community is invited to hear one of Bach’s glorious cantatas. As they were originally written for worship services, these cantatas are presented toward the end of the 10 a.m. Sunday liturgy at Emmanuel Church, where Emmanuel Music is the Ensemble-in-Residence. Those aiming to hear just the cantatas are welcome to join at approximately 11 a.m., but both organizations encourage all to enter at any time during the service, with the motto that “the longer you are here, the more you will hear.” Greeters are there to welcome and assist in seating.

The noted American theatre director, Peter Sellars recalled when he first experienced this hidden treasure. “I really was adopted when I was 21 by a group of musicians in Boston at Emmanuel Church. . . Bach was something that was ongoing every single week. What was beautiful for me was I grew up like everybody with Glen Gould, and with this idea that Bach was this great abstract composer, and it was Emmanuel [that] you got ‘this music is not abstract at all.’

Guest conductors for this year are John Harbison, Emmanuel Music Principal Guest Conductor; Michael Beattie; and David Angus.

In January, participants in The Bach Institute will join the ensemble for the Sunday Cantatas, and other activities. For further information on The Bach Institute, visit www.emmanuelmusic.org/thebachinstitute. For weekly updates please visit www.emmanuelmusic.org or call 617-536-3356.

For the complete Winter/Spring 2017 Cantata, please visit: http://www.emmanuelmusic.org/c...

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