PEORIA -- The Peoria Bach Festival got underway this week, and is better than ever. World class, actually.
The June 7 performance was worthy of New York or Chicago, with operatic soloists and a brilliant chamber orchestra and chorus, singing in the original German. At only $15 it was an incredible bargain.
The festival takes place at the beautiful and historic Trinity Lutheran Church, 135 NE Randolph, the perfect setting for Bach.
It continues on June 8, then on June 9 at two Sunday worship services, where the admission is free.
The June 7 event was very diverse, and began with a familiar, lovely chamber piece, Concerto for Oboe and Violin, with Jennet Ingle on the oboe and EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks on the violin.
Then came three choral numbers, all different, all georgeous but not as well known, and a pleasure to encounter.
Mezzo-soprano Denise Gamez, a faculty member at Wheaton College, sang Cantata No. 170 (Joyous Peace, Beloved Delight of the Soul (1726) with the chamber orchestra, featuring the organ, flute and oboe, shining along with the soloist.
Afterward, Gamez said the piece was new to her. "Learning it was tough but so satisfying. It's so beautiful."
Next the chorus performed "The Spirit Helps Us in Our Weakness," (1729) with only organ accompanyment, making the piece almost a capella. This is another georgeous number, brilliant as only Bach can be.
Finally the chorus and orchestra performed Cantata 131, "Out of the Depths" a better known piece, likely composed when Bach was in his early twenties, lovely and amazing. Soloists were Gerard Sundberg and Trevor Mitchell, both powerful singers.
The audience was full of praise for the event. "It's like stepping back into the 18th century," said one.
"If you were in New York, you wouldn't hear anything better," said another.
"I loved it. It's a beautiful, beautiful piece," said a woman of the Concerto for Oboe and Violin.
The Bach Festival reveals the strength of the classical music community in Peoria, demonstrating again and again their brilliance and professionalism.
The June 8 concert at 8 p.m. features different Bach pieces, Overture No. 2 for Flute and String; Brandenberg Concerto No. 4 for two recorders and violin, and Cantata No. 70 with four operatic soloists.
On June 9 worship services at 8 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. the festival choir will repeat "The Spirit Also Helps Us." Then, audience participation: there will be hymns for the congregation to sing that Bach and his congregation would have sung.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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