Our 39th season concludes with performances of J.S. Bach's Passion According to Saint John on the weekend of April 30 to May 2. Please read more about our fine soloists and baroque orchestra below.

Order your tickets by 5 pm on Thursday, April 29 and you pay only $25 for general, or $18 for senior, tickets. You can order by phone at 415-262-0272 or online.

Please forward to anyone who might be interested. We hope to see you there!

First performed on Good Friday in 1724, The Passion According to Saint John tells the story of Jesus' crucifixion. A tenor Evangelist relates the events from Jesus' last meal with his followers to his burial, while Jesus is sung by a bass soloist. The choir plays several functions — portraying the gathered crowds in thrilling, fiery, angry and often mocking choruses; and exemplifying the faithful in familiar Lutheran chorales.

The beautiful solo arias offer personal reflection by affected onlookers, such as "Ich folge dir gleichfalls" for soprano and flutes, and "Es ist vollbracht" for alto and gamba.

We are delighted to welcome back soprano Rita Lilly and tenor Brian Staufenbiel as featured soloists in this masterpiece. Paul Flight will sing the alto arias.

Early Music specialist Rita Lilly has been a soloist with California Bach Society many times, and has performed with American Bach Soloists, Magnificat, Bay Choral Guild, and San Francisco Renaissance Voices. She was featured in concerts at MusicSources, and operas at Mills College and San Francisco Opera. She can be heard on recordings with the Waverly Consort, American Boychoir, and the American Classical Orchestra.

Brian Staufenbiel, who will sing the tenor arias as well as the role of Evangelist, is well known to Bay area audiences for his performances of this role in the St. John and the St. Matthew passions. He is the Artistic Director of the Opera Program at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he is also on the voice faculty.

The 30-voice choir is joined by a baroque orchestra including such fine players as David Wilson, Katherine Kyme, and Farley Pearce, all regular members of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and American Bach Soloists.

The instruments in our performance include strings (six violins, two violas, and two cellos), two flutes, two oboes, oboe da caccia, viola d'amore, viola da gamba, and organ. The viola d'amore is a viola-like instrument, typically strung with five or six strings and an additional set of sympathetic strings that vibrate with the sound as the instrument is played. The oboe da caccia is larger than a modern oboe and has a curved body and a brass bell.

There are lots of ways you can support CBS. You make a donation to CBS when you make online purchases through eScrip or Igive, or purchase sheet music through Sheet Music Plus. We always need volunteers to help with mailings, ushering, and other occasional tasks. http://www.calbach.org/support.html

The California Bach Society, a 30-voice chamber chorus, has established a reputation for its interpretations of Renaissance and Baroque choral music. Specializing in historically informed performances since 1998, the choir has shared the stage with such Early Music luminaries as Magnificat and members of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, and was a featured concert presenter at the 2000 Berkeley Early Music Festival.

The appointment of artistic Director Dr. Paul Flight in 2006 has resulted in three highly successful concert seasons. A fine voice coach, Dr. Flight has attracted talented new singers, and his sensitive direction has brought new definition to the choir. A recent reviewer from San Francisco Classical Voice wrote "Flight has made of the choral group a professional ensemble capable of every expressive nuance and glorious ensemble sound." For the past three seasons, Dr. Flight has enthralled audiences and critics with his thoughtful and refreshing programming, eliciting reviews such as "one of the most delightful programs of Christmas music in my memory".