Great Barrington — On Saturday, May 11, at the First Congregational Church, the Berkshire Bach Society will present two settings of the Magnificat by father and son Johann Sebastian Bach and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. James Bagwell will conduct chorus, soloists, and Baroque orchestra in a concert dedicated to Berkshire Bach chairman Adrian Van Zon.
The Magnificat, also known as “The Song of Mary,” is among the most ancient canticles of the Christian tradition, having provided inspiration to innumerable composers over many centuries. J.S. Bach made his first Magnificat setting early in his career, and so did his son Carl Philipp Emanuel, who composed his setting in 1749, the year before the Baroque period ended with his father’s death.
As professor of music and director of Performance Studies at Bard College, James Bagwell is familiar to Berkshire audiences as the leader of the Berkshire Bach Society’s annual Messiah Sing. Read his bio to see a full list of the American and international orchestras whose choruses Bagwell has prepared. Highlights include the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, and Los Angeles Philharmonic. Prominent conductors with whom Bagwell has worked as a preparer of choruses include Andris Nelsons, Alan Gilbert, Zubin Mehta, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Robert Shaw. Most notably, he prepared the Concert Chorale of New York for performances of Leonard Bernstein’s “Kaddish Symphony” with the New York Philharmonic.
Bagwell regularly guest conducts the Tulsa Symphony, having led performances of Mozart’s Requiem, Brahms’ “Ein deutsches Requiem,” Benjamin Britten’s “War Requiem,” and Gustav Mahler’s First Symphony. In 2011 and 2012, he conducted the Amici New York Orchestra at the OK Mozart Festival, and in December 2014, he led the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in Handel’s “Messiah.”
Mr. Bagwell recently assumed the associate conductor post at The Orchestra Now and is principal guest conductor of the American Symphony Orchestra. No stranger to pop music, Bagwell has collaborated with singer and composer Natalie Merchant, conducting orchestras for her shows with the San Francisco and Seattle Symphonies and others.
James Bagwell holds degrees from Birmingham-Southern College, Florida State University, and Indiana University. He is Professor of Music and music program director at Bard College, as well as director of Performance Studies in the Bard College Conservatory of Music and co-director of the Bard Conservatory Graduate Program in Conducting.
Soloists on May 11 will be Jennifer Borgh, Adrienne Lotto, Bert Johnson, Devony Smith, Nick Prior, Sean Fallen, Teresa Buchholz, Rachel Jackson, Nate Mattingly, and Allison Gish.
Hear James Bagwell conduct the Berkshire Bach Society’s soloists, chorus, and Baroque orchestra in J.S. and C.P.E. Bach’s settings of the Magnificat on Saturday, May 11, 4 p.m., at the First Congregational Church, 251 Main Street, Great Barrington, directly across from Yellow House Books. Tickets are available here or at the door.
$55 Preferred Seats | $45 Regular Seats | $10 Card to Culture
Children & Students admitted free.
BBS member discounts apply.
