Great Barrington — To stand amidst a heavenly host of voices singing Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” with a live orchestra led by an internationally renowned conductor … This is an activity many of us have placed on our bucket lists between skydiving and golfing with King Charles. It is a rare pleasure that only a lucky few will ever have the chance to experience.
And that chance will come on Saturday, November 26, at 4 p.m., when conductor James Bagwell and the Berkshire Bach Players invite you to indulge your inner diva by participating in a community performance of popular choruses from Handel’s “Messiah” at the First Congregational Church. Admission is free, and non-singers are encouraged to join in as inspired listeners.
The last couple of winter holiday seasons were pretty dismal for Berkshire choirs and choristers, their 2020 and 2021 concertizing savaged by COVID-19. But things are finally looking up for singers of all musical persuasions, from Baroque to jazz to rock, and this event is proof of it.
Over two dozen musicians make up the Berkshire Bach Players. All are associated with major orchestras and teaching institutions, and some are international celebrities. They infrequently assemble all at the same time, and you never know which musicians you’re going to hear at any given performance. But you can see from their roster that they have all the instrumental bases well covered for Saturday’s performance (piano, violins, viola, cello, trumpet, and timpani).
The Berkshire Bach Society actually is a choral group at heart, having formed initially for the purpose of performing J. S. Bach’s cantatas, with the Berkshire Bach Singers performing under various choral directors including Saturday’s conductor, James Bagwell.
Professor of Music at Bard College and Director of Performance Studies in the Bard College Conservatory of Music, Mr. Bagwell was recently named associate conductor of The Orchestra Now. Since 2003, he has been director of choruses for the Bard Music Festival, conducting and preparing choral works during the summer festival at the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College.
He has trained choruses for American and international orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and many more. He has worked with such noted conductors as Andris Nelsons, Alan Gilbert, Zubin Mehta, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Michael Tilson Thomas, Robert Shaw, and many others.
For anyone who loves this music, Saturday’s concert is not to be missed, because singing “Messiah” is even more enjoyable than hearing it sung.
Unconvinced? Then please listen to 30 seconds of the Royal Choral Society performing the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. Then decide.
Join the Berkshire Bach Players and conductor James Bagwell for a community sing-along of Handel choruses at the First Congregational Church on Saturday, November 26, at 4 p.m. Admission is free, tuxedos optional. Bring your own score if you have one. COVID protocols: proof of vaccination and masking while in the venue.
