WELCOME
We are the East Sussex Bach Choir. Our aim is to perform a varied repertoire of baroque and renaissance works to a very high standard. We engage professional soloists and high-quality period players to bring experience and excellence to our performances. We follow the practice of ‘historically informed performance’, getting as close as possible to the composer’s original intention. While the choir’s repertoire certainly includes the works of JS Bach and other baroque composers, it is by no means limited to these.
OUR NEWS
2024-2025 Season
JS BACH: HIS PASSION & GENIUS
As our concert performance of Bach's St Matthew Passion has sold out quickly, we have decided to open part of the final rehearsal to the public.
While this will not be the same as the full performance, you will be able to enjoy a substantial part of the work, with full chorus and orchestra. The part of the final rehearsal open to the public will run from 1.00 to 3.00, with no interval. It will include all of the choruses and most chorales, and some contributions from the Evangelist and possibly other soloists.
As it is a working rehearsal, there may be a few pauses and repeats, but these will be minimal.
The ticket price is £10, seated mainly in the central block. The link for booking is available on our website (see below). Further instructions and advice on attending this rehearsal will follow closer to the day regarding arrival, departure, etiquette in the rehearsal hall etc.
We are sorry that we cannot offer more tickets for the full performance. We are constrained by the lack of a larger concert venue in Lewes that would reflect the demand for our music.
In addition to the programme on sale at the concert, we are pleased to include on the Programme Notes of this website notes kindly provided by Richard Wigmore, Radio 3 presenter and lecturer.
East Sussex Bach Choir has also presented 4 exciting linked events over the last two weeks, all of which have been very successful.
Education Project
In addition to all our concerts & events, we are working closely with local primary and secondary schools to bring the music of Bach and especially that of the St Matthew Passion to their students. Our collaboration involves directly supporting groups in schools to learn more about Bach and the Passion. We will also welcome these groups and other students from local schools to join rehearsals to learn and appreciate how musicians and singers collaborate to produce a performance of a one of the greatest works in the classical repertoire. We hope that by sharing our expertise in, and love for, this wonderful music, young people may develop real enthusiasm for it and enrich their musical knowledge.
If you would like to help us raise funds for the wonderful series of concerts & events, please visit our new "Support Us Through Just Giving" Page
Keep in touch with our future plans by looking for details soon on this website. Why not join our mailing list by contacting us on info@eastsussexbachchoir.org
OUR NEXT CONCERTS
Saturday 29th March 2025
5.30pm Lewes Town Hall
JS BACH
ST MATTHEW PASSION
THIS CONCERT IS SOLD OUT BUT PLEASE SEE DETAILS BELOW ABOUT THE OPEN REHEARSAL
East Sussex Bach Choir with Kantorei Hochrhein Waldshut
Musical Director John Hancorn
The Baroque Collective
(Leader Alison Bury)
Christus: Sir John Tomlinson
Evangelist: Nick Pritchard
Soprano: Sofia Ticciati
Counter-Tenor:
Tom Scott-Cowell
Bass; Florian Störtz
OPEN REHEARSAL
An opportunity to watch part of the final rehearsal, with most choruses & chorales with some solos with the full orchestra.
12.45pm to 3.00 pm.
Lewes Town Hall.
Tickets £10
For ticket information please contact:
tickets @eastsussexbachchoir.org