Ottawa Bach Choir’s 21st season of glorious choral music!

Welcome to the 2022-2023 season and the Ottawa Bach Choir’s 21st season of glorious choral music! The professional ensemble has travelled the world, received national and international recognition, and also won a JUNO award in 2020 for Best Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral, for its album Handel: Dixit Dominus, Bach & Schütz: Motets! Fresh from its return from Bachfest Leipzig 2022 this past June, the choir’s second invitation to the prestigious festival, the OBC presents three concerts, including a Baroque Christmas with music by Heinrich Schütz in commemoration of the 350th anniversary of his death in collaboration with Schützfest, Brahms’ glorious Ein deutsches Requiem in the chamber version for piano four-hands, and a beautiful Spring Serenade with secular part-songs by Haydn, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Ottawa native Nicholas Piper, and more. The choir also releases its 8th album in 2023 on the ATMA Classique label. We are delighted to offer in-person performances, select virtual concerts through our Digital Concert Hall and to share our passion for choral music. Come discover the best that choral music has to offer!

The Ottawa Bach Choir is pleased to offer three magnificent concerts in its 2022-2023 Season Series:

(1) Baroque Christmas, Saturday, November 26, 2022, 8 PM, Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, 355 Cooper St. & OBC’s Digital Concert Hall

(2) Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem, Saturday, March 11, 2023, 8 PM, St. Matthew’s Church, 130 Glebe Ave.

(3) Spring Serenade, Saturday, May 6, 2023, 8 PM, Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St.

We are overjoyed to share our passion for choral music with all patrons. Come discover the best that choral music has to offer!

Lisette Canton, Founder and Artistic Director  

2021-2022 Season

The choir’s 20th anniversary season began with Bach’s Six Motets and 8th recording (postponed from May because of the pandemic), followed by Bach’s masterpiece, Mass in B minor, with Ensemble Caprice baroque orchestra and soloists Meredith Hall, Nicholas Burns, Nils Brown and David Pike. The next concert of French Baroque Treasures included Charpentier’s Missa Assumpta est Maria and Mondonville’s Dominus Regnavit, accompanied by organist Matthew Larkin, followed by Prélude Europe 2022, and the Bach Leipzig Epiphany Cantatas, which included the repertoire the choir would take on its 5th Europen tour, A Bach Pilgrimage, in conjunction with performances at Bachfest Leipzig 2022, with organist Jonathan Oldengarm. All concerts were produced both live and digitally.

2020-2021 Season

For its 19th season, the choir was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and had to reimagine much of its season. It presented digital concerts, beginning with Hodie!, featuring festive repertoire for the season, including Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, and works by Renaissance, Baroque and Contemporary composers with organist Matthew Larkin and harpist Caroline Léonardelli, followed by The French Renaissance, featuring Jean Richafort’s Requiem, as well as chansons by Lassus, Certon and Sermisy. The final concert of Bach’s Six Motets, along with the choir’s 8th recording, had to be postponed because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The OBC won the JUNO 2020 award in the category Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral, for Handel, Bach & Schütz, on the ATMA Classique label.

Reviews and News from Bachfest Leipzig 2022

By Wolfgang Adam

“Then at noon in the Thomas Church a musical surprise. Three superb Bach cantatas (BWV 124, 3, 111) performed by a powerful Canadian choir. This ‘Ottawa Bach Choir’ conducted by Lisette Canton showed us that the choral basses can be dominant in the polyphonic network of voices. Not the choir sopranos, but this time the men offered the powerful voiced basis. In the soloist quartet, the baritone was also the star of the performance for me.”

Rezensionen und News nach Beendigung vom Bachfest Leipzig 2022

Dann In der Mittags-Zeit in der Thomas-Kirche eine musikalische Überraschung. Drei hochkarätige Bach-Kantaten( BWV 124,3,111), aufgeführt von einem machtvollen Chor aus Kanada. Dieser ‘Ottawa-Bach-Chor’ unter Lisette Canton zeigte uns, dass die Chorbässe im polyphonen Geflecht der Stimmen die Dominanz haben können. Nicht der Chor-Sopran, sondern diesmal die Männer boten die stimmgewaltige Grundlage. Im Solistenquartet war auch der Bariton für mich der Star der Darbietung.

Ottawa Bach Choir presents Prelude-Europe 2022 in advance of prestigious invitation to Bachfest Leipzig 2022

The JUNO award winning Ottawa Bach Choir (OBC) has been invited to the world’s most prestigious international Bach festival, Bachfest Leipzig 2022, as one of a select number of ensembles worldwide—and the only Canadian ensemble—to present the entire chorale cantata cycle of Bach, performing with the Pauliner Baroque Ensemble. As part of its fifth European tour this June, the choir also embarks on  A Bach Pilgrimage, following its two performances at Bachfest Leipzig, to the places where Bach lived and worked, including Eisenach, Arnstadt, Mühlhausen, Weimar, and other influential venues in Wittenberg, Halle and Berlin. Canadian soloists, soprano Jana Miller, countertenor Nicholas Burns, tenor Nils Brown and baritone David John Pike, along with organist Jonathan Oldengarm, join the choir on this historic tour.

In preparation for the tour, the OBC presents this repertoire to Ottawa audiences as part of the final concert of its 20th anniversary season, Prelude-Europe 2022, on Saturday, May 7, 2022, 8 PM, at St. Matthew’s Church, 130 Glebe Avenue, in Ottawa. The music includes works by German baroque masters, Bach, Schütz, Telemann, Pachelbel, and others, Renaissance masters, as well as Contemporary gems by Mealor, Ottawa composer Kelly-Marie Murphy, and more. Canadian organist Jonathan Oldengarm joins the choir for this thrilling concert.

“We are honoured to be invited to return to Bachfest Leipzig, performing in the Thomaskirche, where Bach was   employed for 27 years, in the worldwide presentation of his second cycle of chorale cantatas,” says Founder and  Artistic Director, Lisette Canton. As part of our Bach Pilgrimage Tour throughout Germany, performing in the very places where Bach lived and worked and other prestigious venues, we present this exciting repertoire for Ottawa audiences. Join us for this spectacular evening of music!”

The Ottawa Bach Choir, founded in 2002 by Dr. Lisette Canton, offers a wide range of choral music from all historical periods. With the combination of a scholarly and emotional approach, the OBC provides an unforgettable experience of choral music at its best. The OBC won the 2020 JUNO Award for its album, Handel: Dixit Dominus; Bach & Schütz: Motets, in the category “Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral”. The professional ensemble has toured extensively in Canada, the United States, Europe, and China.

For interviews and information, please contact:

Dr. Lisette Canton, Founder and Artistic Director, lisette.canton@ottawabachchoir.ca

Listing information:

Ottawa Bach Choir

with organist Jonathan Oldengarm

Lisette Canton, conductor                                             

Prelude-Europe 2022

Live In-Person

Saturday, May 7, 2022, 8:00 PM

St. Matthew’s Church, 130 Glebe Avenue, Ottawa

Tickets: Reserved $50, Adult $40, Senior $35, Student $20, Children 12 and under free

Tickets are available online or by phone. To view the concert in our Digital Concert Hall, please see the website www.ottawabachchoir.ca.

Information: info@ottawabachchoir.ca

Ottawa Bach Choir performs at Knox Presbyterian Church

TAKE US BACH

by Rachel Williams

On March 12, the rehearsal room at Knox Presbyterian Church was filled with a flurry of excitement before showtime. With COVID-19 restrictions lifted, the Ottawa Bach choir was finally able to host in-person concerts again. Before, the Juno Award winning Ottawa Bach choir had to settle for virtual shows and pre-recorded events.

“We are overjoyed to be back,” said Lisette Canton, the founder, artistic director, and conductor of the choir.

“There is no other way to perform music… This is the art of live music and live performance.”

Contrary to its name, the Ottawa Bach Choir does not just perform in the Ottawa region but

is internationally renowned. They have toured in the United States, Germany, China, and several other countries. One of their highest achievements is performing at the Bachfest Leipzig in Germany, the home of the famous baroque composer.

“It’s an honour because we’ve been asked to tour and perform in some festivals in Bachfest

Leipzig. We are the only Canadian group to ever go, and we are going back for a second time in June this year. It’s wonderful, it’s exhilarating but it’s also a lot of work,” said choral singer Kathleen Radke.

“To be singing in the choir [at the church] where Johann Bach is actually buried. It’s a great honour and it means a lot to us. It’s a very moving experience.”

The lights dimmed and the angelic singing began. The choir sang a medley of French baroque classics. Though named the Bach choir, the group performs works of other classic and even contemporary composers.

My favourite piece in the set was the credo, sung beautifully in Latin. During the intermission, multiple attendees remarked on the transcendent feel of the performance. The musical talents of the guest organist, Matthew Larkin, paired wonderfully with the choir.

The Ottawa Bach Choir will be representing Canada at the Bachfest Leipzig again this June.

Learn more about the Ottawa Bach Choir on their website.

Ottawa Bach Choir invited to Bachfest Leipzig 2022

The JUNO award winning Ottawa Bach Choir (OBC) has been invited to the world’s most prestigious international Bach festival, Bachfest Leipzig 2022, as one of a select number of ensembles worldwide—and the only Canadian ensemble—to present the entire chorale cantata cycle of Bach, performing with the Pauliner Baroque Ensemble. As part of its fifth European tour, the choir also embarks on  A Bach Pilgrimage, following its two performances at Bachfest Leipzig, to the places where Bach lived and worked, including Eisenach, Arnstadt, Mühlhausen, Weimar, and other influential venues in Wittenberg, Halle and Berlin, singing works by German Baroque masters, as well as Contemporary gems, including Canadian Kelly-Marie Murphy. Canadian soloists, soprano Jana Miller, countertenor Nicholas Burns, tenor Nils Brown and baritone David John Pike, along with organist Jonathan Oldengarm, join the choir on this historic tour.

“We are honoured to be invited to return to Bachfest Leipzig, performing in the Thomaskirche, where Bach was  employed for 27 years, in the worldwide presentation of his second cycle of chorale cantatas,” says Founder and  Artistic Director, Lisette Canton. We also travel throughout Germany to perform in the very places where Bach lived  and worked, including the Georgenkirche in Eisenach, Bach/Stadtkirche in Arnstadt, Bachkirche Divi Blasii in Mühlhausen, the Herderkirche St. Peter and Paul in Weimar, as well as the Schloßkirche in Wittenberg, where Martin Luther posted his 95 theses, the Händelhaus in Handel’s birthplace of Halle, and finishing in Berlin.

The Ottawa Bach Choir, founded in 2002 by Dr. Lisette Canton, offers a wide range of choral music from all historical periods. With the combination of a scholarly and emotional approach, the OBC provides an unforgettable experience of choral music at its best. The OBC won the 2020 JUNO Award for its album, Handel: Dixit Dominus; Bach & Schütz: Motets, in the category “Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral”. The professional ensemble has also toured extensively in Canada, the United States, Europe, and China, and had the honour of being the first Canadian choir ever to be among the performers in Bachfest Leipzig 2014.

For interviews and information, please contact:

Dr. Lisette Canton, Founder and Artistic Director, lisette.canton@ottawabachchoir.ca

Listing information:

Ottawa Bach Choir

Dr. Lisette Canton, conductor

with Canadian soloists soprano Jana Miller, countertenor Nicholas Burns, tenor Nils Brown, baritone David John Pike and organist Jonathan Oldengarm                                                   

Bachfest Leipzig 2022 and A Bach Pilgrimage Tour

June 13: Bachfest Leipzig “Mette”, Thomaskirche, Leipzig

June 17: Bachfest Leizpig, “Cantate Domino!”, Thomaskirche Leipzig

June 18: Schloßkirche, Wittenberg

June 19: Georgenkirche, Eisenach

June 20: Händelhaus, Halle; Bachkirche Divi Blasii, Mühlhausen

June 21: Bach/Stadtkirche, Arnstadt; Herderkirche St. Peter and Paul, Weimar

Information: info@ottawabachchoir.ca

Ottawa Bach Choir presents “French Baroque Treasures”

The JUNO award winning Ottawa Bach Choir (OBC) presents the second concert of its 20th anniversary season, French Baroque Treasures, on Saturday, March 12, 2022, 8:00 PM, at Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar Street, in Ottawa. Featuring glorious music from the French Baroque period, including Charpentier’s chef d’œuvre, Missa assumpta est Maria and Dominus regnavit by Mondonville, the concert will be performed with organist Matthew Larkin and soloists from the choir.

We are excited to present this glorious French music from the repertoire of the 18th century by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, maître de musique at the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, and Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville, maître de musique at the Chapelle Royale of Versailles,” says Founder and Artistic Director Lisette Canton. “This rarely heard music, full of majesty and drama, will be a thrilling discovery for our audiences.”

The Ottawa Bach Choir, founded in 2002 by Dr. Lisette Canton, offers a wide range of choral music from all historical periods. With the combination of a scholarly and emotional approach, the OBC provides an unforgettable experience of choral music at its best. The OBC has toured extensively in Canada, the United States, Europe, and China, and had the honour of being the first Canadian choir ever to be among the performers in Bachfest Leipzig 2014.

The OBC won the 2020 JUNO Award for its album, Handel: Dixit Dominus; Bach & Schütz: Motets, in the category Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral. The choir has also been invited to return to the world’s most prestigious international Bach festival, Bachfest Leipzig 2022, as one of a select number of ensembles worldwide (and the only Canadian ensemble) to present the entire chorale cantata cycle of Bach.

For interviews and information, please contact:

Dr. Lisette Canton, Founder and Artistic Director, lisette.canton@ottawabachchoir.ca

Listing information:

Ottawa Bach Choir

with organist Matthew Larkin and soloists from the choir

Dr. Lisette Canton, conductor                                                   

French Baroque Treasures

Live In-Person (limited tickets available)

Saturday, March 12, 2022, 8:00 PM

Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar Street, Ottawa

Tickets: Reserved $50, Adult $40, Senior $35, Student $20, Children 12 and under free

Please review our COVID-19 Response for In-Person Concerts on the website.

Tickets are available online: www.ottawabachchoir.ca

To view the concert in our Digital Concert Hall, please see the website.

Information: info@ottawabachchoir.ca

Ottawa Bach Choir Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Bach’s “Mass in B Minor”

The JUNO award winning Ottawa Bach Choir (OBC) presents the first concert of its 20th anniversary season, Bach: Mass in B Minor, BWV 232, on Saturday, November 27, 2021, 7:30 PM, at Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar Street, in Ottawa. Considered the greatest work of art of all times and people, Bach’s masterpiece will feature Ensemble Caprice baroque orchestra and Canadian soloists, soprano Meredith Hall, countertenor Nicholas Burns, tenor Nils Brown and bass David John Pike.

“Join the OBC and a spectacular cast of musicians in what is considered ‘the greatest musical work of art of all times and people’—Bach’s Mass in B Minor,” says Founder and Artistic Director, Lisette Canton. “It represents a timeless, crowning achievement of Bach’s musical and spiritual profundity, and continues to move listeners, placing it far above any work composed in Western history. We invite you to join us in this incredible musical experience to celebrate our 20th anniversary.”

The Ottawa Bach Choir, founded in 2002 by Dr. Lisette Canton, offers a wide range of choral music from all historical periods. With the combination of a scholarly and emotional approach, the OBC provides an unforgettable experience of choral music at its best. The OBC has toured extensively in Canada, the United States, Europe, and China, and had the honour of being the first Canadian choir ever to be among the performers in Bachfest Leipzig 2014.

The OBC won the 2020 JUNO Award for its album, Handel: Dixit Dominus; Bach & Schütz: Motets, in the category Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral. The choir has also been invited to return to the world’s most prestigious international Bach festival, Bachfest Leipzig 2022, as one of a select number of ensembles worldwide (and the only Canadian ensemble) to present the entire chorale cantata cycle of Bach.

For interviews and information, please contact:

Emily O’Kane, Administrative Manager, emily.okane@ottawabachchoir.ca

Dr. Lisette Canton, Founder and Artistic Director, lisette.canton@ottawabachchoir.ca

Listing information:

Ottawa Bach Choir

with Ensemble Caprice baroque orchestra; Matthias Maute, artistic director

Soloists: soprano Meredith Hall, countertenor Nicholas Burns, tenor Nils Brown, bass David John Pike

Dr. Lisette Canton, conductor                                                   

Bach: Mass in B Minor, BWV 232

Live In-Person (limited tickets available)

Saturday, November 27, 2021, 7:30PM

Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar Street, Ottawa

Tickets: Reserved $50, Adult $40, Senior $35, Student $20, Children 12 and under free

Please review our COVID-19 Response for In-Person Concerts on the website.

Tickets are available online: www.ottawabachchoir.ca

To view the concert in our Digital Concert Hall, please see the website.

Information: info@ottawabachchoir.ca

Ottawa Bach Choir Receives Trillium Resilient Communities Fund Grant

Ottawa (Canada)- The Ottawa Bach Choir is pleased to have been awarded a Resilient Communities Fund Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and to support efforts in rebuilding resilience and capacity for the return of healthy vibrant communities.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. Last year, nearly $112M was invested into 1,384 community projects and partnerships to build healthy and vibrant communities and strengthen the impact of Ontario’s non-profit sector. In 2020/21, OTF supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

The Resilient Communities Fund Grant has helped the Ottawa Bach Choir to reimagine its entire season, including the purchase health and safety supplies, equipment and capital, a larger virtual presence, including technical production for a new digital series of pre-recorded and livestreamed concerts in its new Digital Concert Hall, increased marketing and new possibilities for partnerships and artistic collaborations. “The resources from the Resilient Communities Fund Grant provided a bridge in the Ottawa Bach Choir’s artistic programming and community outreach, allowing for new technological advances for present and future concerts and events. We are grateful for this much-appreciated support through this grant initiative from the Ontario Trillium Foundation,” says Founder and Artistic Director, Dr. Lisette Canton.

The Ottawa Bach Choir, founded in 2002 by Dr. Lisette Canton, offers a wide range of choral music from all historical periods. With the combination of a scholarly and emotional approach, the OBC provides an unforgettable experience of choral music at its best. The Ottawa Bach Choir (OBC) won the 2020 JUNO Award for its album, Handel: Dixit Dominus; Bach & Schütz: Motets, in the category Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral. The choir has also been invited to return to the world’s most prestigious international Bach festival, Bachfest Leipzig 2022, as one of a select number of ensembles worldwide (and the only Canadian ensemble) to present the entire chorale cantata cycle of Bach.

What’s next for The Ottawa Bach Choir?

Bach: Mass in B Minor, Saturday, November 27, 2021, in honour of the OBC’s 20th anniversary, the season begins with Bach’s masterpiece, considered the greatest work of all time and all people, with Ensemble Caprice baroque orchestra and soloists, performed both in person and livestreamed in its Digital Concert Hall.

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