Season Announcement

2023 - 2024 Performance Season

Emmanuel Music is proud to announce its 2023–24 performance season, celebrating the works of Johann Sebatian Bach, and their lasting significance and influence. Across four major concerts, in addition to the continuing Cantata Series, winter Bach Institute intensive, Lenten Lindsey Chapel Series, and community outreach programs, Emmanuel Music boldly continues its mission of serving as a living laboratory for Bach, both in the Boston area and beyond. The pieces selected for this season by Artistic Director Ryan Turner, and the new motets commissioned by Emmanuel Music, highlight Bach’s impact on artists today.

The season opens with a rare opportunity to experience Bach across space and time, as renowned pianist Simone Dinnerstein performs three keyboard concerti by Bach, Mozart, and Glass. In December, Emmanuel Music celebrates the holiday season with a performance of Britten's dramatic cantata on the legendary life of Saint Nicolas. In March, the ensemble performs one of the greatest masterpieces of Baroque music, the St. Matthew Passion by J.S. Bach. And in June, Emmanuel Music sends off its ensemble to join BachFest Leipzig with a local program of four Bach cantatas, accompanied by newly commissioned motets.

2023 - 2024 Performance Season

Simone Dinnerstein: Bach | Mozart | Glass

Sept 23, 2023

Simone Dinnerstein with Emmanuel Music
Laurie Olinder, Video Installation
Distler Hall at Tufts University

Bach Keyboard Concerto in D minor, BWV 1052
Mozart        Piano Concerto in C Major, K. 467 
Glass Tirol Concerto for Piano and Orchestra

Join us for a special evening of music as we explore the lasting influence of Johann Sebastian Bach. Following the resounding success of Emmanuel Music's collaboration with Simone Dinnerstein in June 2022, we are delighted to welcome her back to present these three keyboard concerti by Bach, Mozart, and Glass with visual counterpoint in the form of an abstract video journey by artist Laurie Olinder. We will trace the ways in which Bach's music has influenced and been interpreted in dialogue with other composers across space and time.

Bach's Keyboard Concerto in D minor, BWV 1052, is a soaring and majestic work that showcases the composer's mastery of counterpoint. Mozart's Piano Concerto in C Major, K. 467, is a sparkling and elegant work that regularly delights audiences of all ages. A rare treat, Philip Glass' Tirol Concerto for Piano and Orchestra is a seldom-performed work based on traditional Austrian folk music, Volkslied.
Tickets

Cantata Series

Sept 24, 2023 - May 12, 2024

Sunday Mornings at Emmanuel Church

The core of our founding, Emmanuel Music presents a different cantata each Sunday, typically by J.S. Bach, as part of the worship service at Emmanuel Church. All are welcome to attend the church service which starts at 10:00am, and/or the cantata presentation which usually begins around 11:00am.
View Cantata Schedule

Christmas at Emmanuel

December 17, 2023


Britten St. Nicolas
Bach Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen, BWV 65
TBD Commissioned motet premiere

Join Emmanuel Music with Cambridge Common Voices for an opulent celebration of the holiday season, centered around Benjamin Britten’s dramatic cantata, inspired by Saint Nicolas’ legendary care for the poor and oppressed. Set against the lush horns and arias of Bach’s Epiphanytide cantata, Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen, BWV 65, we link holiday traditions old and new with a newly commissioned motet, inspired by its accompanying program.
Tickets

The Bach Institute Intensive

January 4 - 15, 2024


Emmanuel Church

During the BI January Intensive we invite a group of auditioned talented young musicians for a 10-day exploration of Bach's marvelous cantata repertoire, including lectures, masterclasses, open rehearsals, and stimulating conversations. Bach's music is fully alive at Emmanuel Music; come watch us play in our living laboratory, testing and examining sound, text, and structure to discover the underlying messages in the music.
Learn More

Lindsey Chapel Series

February 15 - March 21, 2024


Emmanuel Church

Our popular Lindsey Chapel Series provides free performances by solo musicians and small ensembles from 12:00–1:00pm on Thursdays, both in-person and streaming live, throughout Lent. Experience the architectural beauty and intimate acoustics of one of the most beautiful Lady Chapels in the country.
Learn More

St. Matthew Passion

March 23, 2024

Bach       St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244

Rousing us from winter to celebrate the awakening spring, Emmanuel Music performs one of the greatest masterpieces of Baroque music, the St. Matthew Passion by J.S. Bach, BWV 244. Performed by two orchestras, two choruses, and a children’s chorus, a narrator and an array of soloists enact an exhilarating and dramatic theatrical experience, immersive and electrifying.
Tickets

BachFest in Boston

June 5, 2024

A BachFest  Leipzig Sendoff Concert
Bach       BWV 94, 101, 113, 137
TBD         Commissioned prelude motets

Emmanuel Music goes to Leipzig! We’re deeply honored to have been invited to participate in this global celebration of Bach, and wish we could take all our Boston friends with us. Before we head to BachFest in Germany, we want to share the experience of BachFest — with some added benefits — for our local audience. Experience our program of four Bach cantatas, accompanied by newly commissioned motets inspired by each of the Bach works. Emmanuel Music continues our mission of serving as a living laboratory of Bach, both at home and abroad.
Tickets

Conversation: Simone Dinnerstein & Ryan Turner

Announcing Our 23/24 Season

the Bach institute

A Living Laboratory for the Music of J. S. Bach

During the BI January Intensive we invite a group of auditioned talented young musicians for a 10-day exploration of Bach's marvelous cantata repertoire, including lectures, masterclasses, open rehearsals, and stimulating conversations. Bach's music is fully alive at Emmanuel Music; come watch us play in our living laboratory, testing and examining sound, text, and structure to discover the underlying messages in the music.

Learn more