Bethlehem, Pa. – The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, America’s oldest Bach Choir, in collaboration with the internationally acclaimed Westminster Choir, is proud to announce its upcoming Spring Concert featuring Sergei Rachmaninoff’s transcendent All-Night Vigil (Vespers).
The concert will take place at the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem on Sunday, March 30th at 4pm. The day prior, the Bach Choir and Westminster Choir will unite to perform the All-Night Vigil at The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia at 7:30pm.
The concert will take place at the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem on Sunday, March 30th at 4pm. The day prior, the Bach Choir and Westminster Choir will unite to perform the All-Night Vigil at The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia at 7:30pm.
This breathtaking choral work, composed in 1915, is often regarded as one of the greatest achievements in sacred music. Blending ancient Russian Orthodox chants with Rachmaninoff’s signature romantic harmonies, this piece’s fifteen movements reflect profound spiritual and emotional depth, transporting listeners through the beauty of evening and morning prayers.
Featured soloists mezzo-soprano Luthein Brackett and tenor Steven Brennfleck will join basso profundo Glenn Miller. Known for his extraordinary vocal depth and resonance, Miller’s commanding voice brings a remarkable richness to All-Night Vigil, particularly in the movement Nunc Dimittis, which demands some of the deepest choral bass notes ever written. Miller’s artistry and profound vocal range add an unparalleled depth to this already transcendent work.
The Westminster Choir, founded in 1920 and renowned for its artistry, joins us for this extraordinary performance. The choir has collaborated with leading orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra and has been shaped by a legacy of excellence in choral music.
With 130 voices of the combined choirs, this a cappella performance of Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil will be the Bach Choir’s first time presenting this masterwork, offering a universe of vocal sonorities—some of the most moving music ever written. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness two exceptional choirs and a world-class basso profundo come together for an unforgettable experience!
Event Details
What: Bach Choir of Bethlehem’s Spring Concert: Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil
When: Sunday, March 30th at 4pm, doors at 3:30pm.
Where: First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center St, Bethlehem, PA
Tickets: $45, $9 for students. Available at bach.org.
ABOUT THE BACH CHOIR OF BETHLEHEM
Founded in 1898 and comprised of 115 dedicated volunteer singers, the Bach Choir of Bethlehem is the oldest American Bach Choir, performing the first complete U.S. renditions of Bach’s Mass in B Minor in 1900 and Christmas Oratorio in 1901. Under Artistic Director and Conductor Dr. Christopher Jackson, the choir attracts thousands each year to Bethlehem, PA for its annual Bethlehem Bach Festival. Programming includes over 40 concerts and educational events per year, reaching an audience of more than 22,000 through outreach programs like Bach to School, Bach at Noon, interdisciplinary family concerts, and more. The choir’s latest recording, Mendelssohn/Bach Matthäus-Passion (2024) was released by Analekta, Canada’s largest indie classic label. The Bach Choir’s Bel Canto Youth Chorus, an educational program under the direction of Director Kelly Rocchi, is training the next generation of choral singers and cultivating a life-long passion for the choral arts. For more information, visit BACH.org.
ABOUT THE WESTMINSTER CHOIR
Setting the standard for choral excellence since 1920, the Westminster Choir is composed of students at Westminster Choir College of Rider University. The ensemble’s 2024-2025 season includes performances with the International Contemporary Ensemble strings in works of David Lang and Caroline Shawl with the Gondwana Chorale and the New York City Children’s Chorus in New York; of Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil with the Bach Choir of Bethlehem in Philadelphia and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; and of Brahms’ Schicksalsied with the Princeton Symphony. Recent seasons included concert performances in Washington, D.C., New York, and Connecticut, including the premiere of the James Whitbourn Requiem at Carnegie Hall; a concert tour of Ohio and Pennsylvania, including a performance at the Dayton Westminster Presbyterian Church, birthplace of the choir performances of the Mozart Requiem with the Pittsburgh Symphony; the release of the album A Serenity of Soul on the GIA Choral Works label; and Christmas at Westminster: An Evening of Readings and Carols, seen by public television audiences nationwide in 2023 and 2024. Other recent seasons have included concert tours in Beijing, China and Spain, as well as participation in the World Symposium on Choral Music in Barcelona.
Information provided to TVL by:
Glenn Koehler
