The JUNO award winning Ottawa Bach Choir (OBC) presents the first concert of its 20^th 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 20^th 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

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  

The JUNO award-winning Ottawa Bach Choir (OBC) presents the first concert of its 22^nd season, Magnificat, on Saturday, December 2, 2023, 8:00 p.m., at St. Matthew’s Church, 130 Glebe Avenue, in Ottawa. The concert features settings of the Magnificat, including the original setting by Johann Sebastian Bach, composed for his first Christmas in Leipzig in 1723, as well as settings by Jan Dismas Zelenka and Heinrich Biber, both originally from the Czech Republic, and the Italian Isabella Leonarda, Also included is the virtuosic cantata for solo soprano and trumpet by Bach, Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51. The Theatre of Early Music baroque orchestra joins the choir, along with guest soloists, soprano Myriam Leblanc, countertenor Daniel Taylor, tenor Owen McCausland, and bass Alex Dobson.

“We are thrilled to open our 22^nd season with an array of spectacular and rarely heard settings of the Magnificat, culminating in the original music Bach composed as Thomaskantor in Leipzig in 1723, along with virtuosic music for solo soprano and trumpet,” says Founder and Artistic Director, Lisette Canton. “Come share our passion as we celebrate this festive season with magnificent works from the Baroque period with some of today’s leading musicians in this style—you won’t want to miss it!”

The Ottawa Bach Choir, founded in 2002 by Dr. Lisette Canton, offers audiences a wide range of choral music of the finest quality, performing music from all historical periods while keeping Bach’s choral oeuvre as the focus of its repertoire. 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, and returned from the prestigious international festival, Bachfest Leipzig, in June 2022. The OBC has toured extensively in Canada, Europe, the United States and China, and had the honour of being the first Canadian choir ever to be among the performers in Bachfest Leipzig 2014. The choir’s eighth album, Johann Sebastian Bach: Six Motets, on the ATMA Classique label, “one of the finest on record” (The WholeNote), is available on all streaming platforms as well as on the choir’s website.

For interviews and information, please contact:

Elena Goubanova, Administrative Manager, elena.goubanova@ottawabachchoir.ca

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

Listing information:

Ottawa Bach Choir

with Theatre of Early Music baroque orchestra; Daniel Taylor, artistic director

Guest soloists: soprano Myriam Leblanc, countertenor Daniel Taylor, tenor Owen McCausland, and bass Alex Dobson

Lisette Canton, conductor

Magnificat

Saturday, December 2, 2023, 8:00 p.m.

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

Tickets: Reserved $55, Adult $45, Senior $40, Student $20, Children 12 and under free

Tickets are available online: www.ottawabachchoir.ca

Information: info@ottawabachchoir.ca

Ottawa (Canada) – The JUNO award-winning Ottawa Bach Choir (OBC) presents the second concert of the 23rd season, Polychoral Extravaganza, on Saturday, March 1, 2025, 7:30 p.m., at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, in Ottawa. The concert features a joint performance with the Vancouver Chamber Choir, with works by each choir as well as polychoral music for double choir. Composers include Bach, Bruckner, Schütz, Tavener and Martin, among others, along with the OBC performing Langlais’ Messe solennelle with organist Matthew Larkin, and the VCC showcasing works by Muhly, Hawley, Whittall, Dove, and more!

“The OBC is thrilled to welcome the Vancouver Chamber Choir, directed by Kari Turunen, back to Ottawa, and to collaborate on such an eclectic program ,” says Founder and Artistic Director, Lisette Canton. “Don’t miss this choral celebration, featuring music from the Baroque to the Contemporary, by two of Canada’s exceptional professional choirs!”

Founded in 2002 by Dr. Lisette Canton, the Ottawa Bach Choir offers audiences a wide range of choral music of the finest quality, performing music from all historical periods while keeping Bach’s choral oeuvre as the focus of its repertoire. The choir has garnered acclaim through award-winning recordings and worldwide tours, including in Canada, Europe, the United States, Mexico and China, featuring prestigious appearances at Bachfest Leipzig, Meet in Beijing, Festival Música Santa Fe, Ottawa Chamberfest, Carnegie Hall, and more.

For interviews and information, please contact:

Hannah Lim, General Manager, hannahlim913@gmail.com

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

Listing information:

Ottawa Bach Choir

with the Vancouver Chamber Choir; Kari Turunen, Artistic Director

Matthew Larkin, Organist

Lisette Canton, Conductor

Polychoral Extravaganza

Saturday, March 1, 2025, 7:30 p.m.

Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, 355 Cooper Street, Ottawa

Tickets: Reserved $55, Adult $45, Senior $40, Student $20, Children 12 and under free

Tickets are available online: www.ottawabachchoir.ca

Information: info@ottawabachchoir.ca

Who: Ottawa Bach Choir, Lisette Canton, conductor
Where: Knox Presbyterian Church
Reviewed on: Saturday, March 8, 2014 – 8 PM

OTTAWA — The music of the cultural movement of the English Renaissance, more or less contemporary with the Tudor era, reached some of the greatest heights of its time. At its best, it bears comparison with the work of De Lassus, Victoria and the other major continental polyphonists. English music would not be so distinguished again until the 20th century.

The Ottawa Bach Choir offered a program of music from the 16th and early 17th centuries Saturday evening at Knox Presbyterian Church. There was considerable variety in it, consisting largely of sacred music of various stripes, but with a few secular works. The composers represented included familiar names like William Byrd, Thomas Tallis and Orlando Gibbons, along with lesser-known musicians.

The first offering was If You Love Me, an anthem by Thomas Tallis, who is probably the best-known of the lot. Conductor Lisette Canton led a reading typical of much of what was to follow; there were a few minor flaws of intonation in an otherwise impressive performance.

Robert Parsons’ Ave Maria was beautiful without qualification as were the subtly nuanced Laudibus in Sanctis by William Byrd and Orlando Gibbons’ Lullaby My Sweet Little Baby. The last of these had quite a sensuous feeling about it, a little curious perhaps but beautiful just the same.

There were three secular songs too, which provided a bit of contrast to the high seriousness of most of the repertoire. Gibbons’ The Silver Swan was perhaps the most satisfying of them.

The major work on the program was Byrd’s Mass for Four Voices, a masterwork of the first order. Not only was it the most substantial item on the program, it received the most accomplished and satisfying performance. It was solid throughout, but with no shortage of great moments, especially in the Credo. The Sanctus and Agnus Dei were uncommonly beautiful as well.

Altogether it was an entirely lovely evening of a cappella singing

The Ottawa Bach Choir (OBC), along with organist Matthew Larkin and Ensemble Caprice Baroque Orchestra, will be taking its music to China with an invitation to perform at the prestigious Meet in Beijing festival in April 2016. The OBC will be performing several concerts, including masterclasses led by artistic director Dr. Lisette Canton, in Beijing and Shanghai. This will include performing in the Opening Ceremonies of the festival with the Symphony Orchestra of the National Opera of China. Performance venues will comprise the National Centre for the Performing Arts, the Concert Hall at the Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre, and the Beijing Concert Hall.

The OBC will be performing the works of several Baroque masters, including J.S. Bach, and Canadian works by Healey Willan, Rupert Lang, Leonard Enns, Diane Loomer and Harry Somers, among others. The members of the OBC will also be polishing their Mandarin as they present the Chinese folksong Mo Li Hua.

The OBC is very excited to be invited to China after its recent invitation to perform at the Bachfest Leipzig 2014 at the Thomaskirche, in Leipzig, Germany, as the first Canadian choir ever to be invited. The OBC is happy to include the tour in its season along with its subscription series, intimate concerts, community outreach, and a CD recording planned in this season of choral wonders.

The Ottawa Bach Choir was founded in 2002 by Dr. Lisette Canton and offers a wide range of choral music from all historical periods, featuring some of Canada’s top choristers. 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, and Europe. The OBC has also been invited to perform in many other festivals in Ottawa, Quebec City, and most recently in Toronto at the Luminato Festival performing in the much-anticipated Apocalypsis by Canada’s own R. Murray Schafer.

The choir’s fifth season treated audiences to inspired performances of some of the most beautiful and moving choral music. Our subscription series included A Taste of the Italian Baroque, a Canadian premiere of Roxanna Panufnik’s Westminster Mass with the Montreal ensemble Musica Orbium, and a European Extravaganza to celebrate the choir’s second European tour returning to sing at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig (Bach’s church), as well as in Bayreuth, Vienna, Salzburg and Munich.

Dear Music Lover,

It is my distinct pleasure, as Founder and Artistic Director, to invite you to subscribe to the Ottawa Bach Choir’s fifteenth anniversary season of spectacular choral music. Over the last 13 years, the professional ensemble has travelled the world and received national and international recognition. The choir has just returned from China, where it was invited to perform as Canada’s choral representative in the prestigious festival, Meet in Beijing 2016. In 2014, the OBC completed its 4th European tour, which included an invitation to perform in the Bachfest Leipzig 2014 at the Thomaskirche, in Leipzig, Germany, as the first Canadian choir ever to be invited. As the choir expands in breadth, performances in this anniversary season include a Subscription Series, the launch of the choir’s 6th CD and several Special Events. The season opens with a special Fall Garden Party, A Sunday with Bach, at the German Ambassador’s residence. Come discover the best that choral music has to offer!

Lisette Canton
Founder and Artistic Director

For its 15th anniversary season, the choir released its 6th CD, ‘Twas But Pure Love, with music for Christmas from the Renaissance, Baroque and Contemporary periods, with two recording premieres by Kelly-Marie Murphy and Matthew Larkin, accompanied by harpist Caroline Léonardelli and organist Jonathan Oldengarm. The first concert saw the launch of the CD, followed by Rossini: Sacred and Profane, featuring his Petite Messe Solennelle for two pianos and harmonium, along with works for solo ensembles, and Jesu, meine Freude, including German Baroque motets by Bach and his contemporaries.

In the spirit of Oktoberfest, the Ottawa Bach Choir, in collaboration with Ars Nova and several local businesses, presents a concert and special event on Sunday, September, 30, 2018, 3 PM, at St. Bartholomew’s Church, including an afternoon of beautiful music by Johann Sebastian Bach and his Baroque contemporaries, local beer brewed by Kichesippi Beer Co., wine, delectable delights by Par Toutatis, hors d’œuvres and sumptuous desserts. Enjoy an afternoon of delightful company, inspiring music by the OBC and organist Matthew Larkin, along with delicious food and drink.

 Founded in 2002 by Dr. Lisette Canton, the OBC offers a wide range of choral music from all historical periods, featuring some of Canada’s top choristers. 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, and Europe, and was invited to perform as Canada’s choral representative in the prestigious Meet in Beijing arts festival in Beijing, China, in April 2016. In 2014, the choir completed a two-week tour of Venice, Leipzig, Lübeck, Groningen, and Amsterdam, and had the honour of being the first Canadian choir ever to be among the performers in the world’s most prestigious international Bach festival, the Bachfest Leipzig 2014.

Listing information:

Ottawa Bach Choir

Lisette Canton, Conductor

Matthew Larkin, Organ

Bach & Beer

Sunday, September 30, 2018, 3 PM

St. Bartholomew’s Church, 125 MacKay Street, Ottawa

Tickets: $75 ($50 tax receipt available upon request)

Tickets available at:

Online: www.ottawabachchoir.ca

Information: www.ottawabachchoir.ca or 613-270-1015

For its 16th season, the choir presented Nativity, featuring the premiere of Novum Canticum by Marc Langis, along with music for Christmas from the Renaissance, Baroque and Contemporary periods, accompanied by harpist Caroline Léonardelli and organist Matthew Larkin, followed by Victoria: Officium Defunctorum, featuring the masterpiece by the Renaissance composer, along with works by Palestrina, Allegri, and more, and finally Baroque passion, including Handel’s Dixit Dominus, Bach’s motet, Komm, Jesu, komm, BWV 229, and Schütz’ Passion Motets, which the choir recorded for its 7th CD.

Dear OBC friends, patrons and subscribers,

It is with sadness and regret that we must inform you of the cancellation of our final concert of the season, Prelude-Europe 2020, which was supposed to occur on May 2, 2020, because of the ongoing spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Ottawa, in Canada and across the globe. Our organization has been conscious of the health and safety of our musical family and had hoped to livestream our concert for you; however, with the ongoing community spread of COVID-19, we must continue to practice social distancing as recommended by Public Health experts. The present situation would create an undue risk to our singers, our families and our community.

Although we cannot predict how the pandemic will change in the coming months, rest assured that we will continue to share our music with you through our JUNO-nominated recordings on our website, on various digital platforms (iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, and more) and on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram). And don’t forget to look for our upcoming 2020-2021 season announcement! 

For those who have purchased tickets to our above performance, we offer the following options:

1) Refund: We are happy to offer a refund for your single ticket or final portion of your subscription.

2) Donation: If you are able and would like to donate your ticket purchase to the OBC, we would be happy to issue a tax receipt.

Please let us know what your preference is. If you have any questions, please contact us by email or by phone at 613-270-1015. 

We are united with you and our colleagues in Ottawa, Canada and around the world, and look to the universal message of hope and comfort in Bach’s music as we move through this challenging time together. We thank you so much for your continued support of the OBC and look forward to sharing our full program of glorious music with you as soon as possible.

Lisette Canton, Founder and Artistic Director,
and the entire Ottawa Bach Choir team

The JUNO Award-winning Ottawa Bach Choir (OBC) presents the second concert of its 19th season, The French Renaissance, on Saturday, March 13, 2021, 8 PM, in its new Digital Concert Hall. The second concert highlights rarely performed sacred and secular music by the Franco-Flemish Renaissance composer, Jean Richafort, and more. Repertoire includes his Missa pro defunctis (Requiem), as well as chansons by Orlande de Lassus, Pierre Certon and Claudin de Sermisy, all performed in the beautiful acoustic of St. Paul’s Chapel, Ottawa.

The OBC has won the JUNO 2020 Award for its recording, Handel: Dixit Dominus; Bach & Schütz: Motets, in the category Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral. Released on the ATMA Classique label, the album has been exclaimed as “staggering and movingly performed” (Gramophone Magazine), “among the very best” (American Record Guide) and “awe-inspiring” (The WholeNote).

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) asked to present the entire chorale cantata cycle of Bach, in June 2020.

Founded in 2002 by Dr. Lisette Canton, the OBC offers a wide range of choral music from all historical periods, featuring some of Canada’s top choristers. 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.

Listing information:

Ottawa Bach Choir

Dr. Lisette Canton, Conductor                                                   

The French Renaissance

Jean Richafort Requiem and chansons by Claudin de Sermisy, Pierre Certon, Orlande de Lassus and Richafort.

Saturday, March 13, 2021, 8 PM: Digital Concert Hall

Tickets: General $20

Tickets are available online: OBC Digital Concert Hall

Information: info@ottawabachchoir.ca

The JUNO award winning Ottawa Bach Choir (OBC) presents the second concert of its 20^th 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 18^th 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

The JUNO award winning Ottawa Bach Choir (OBC) presents the first concert of its 21^st season, Baroque Christmas, on Saturday, November 26, 2022, 8:00pm, at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, 355 Cooper Street, in Ottawa. The concert features Heinrich Schütz’ Historia der Geburt Jesu Christi, SWV 435, in collaboration with Schützfest, as well as festive works by Bach and Buxtehude. The Theatre of Early Music baroque orchestra joins the choir, along with British concert master, Adrian Butterfield, as well as soloists, Daniel Taylor, countertenor, Rufus Müller, tenor, and Ottawa native Matthew Li, bass.

“This concert opens up a glorious 21^st season with music by composers the OBC holds dear to its heart: Schütz, Bach and Buxtehude,” says Founder and Artistic Director, Dr. Lisette Canton  “We are delighted to have the opportunity to be part of Schützfest, the national festival in honour of Heinrich Schütz, and to present such magnificent works from the Baroque period with some of the leading soloists and instrumentalists in this style. Join us for this festive celebration!”

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, and has just returned from the prestigious international festival, Bachfest Leipzig, this past June 2022. 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.

For interviews and information, please contact:

Lee-Ann Brodeur, Administrative Manager, leeann.brodeur@ottawabachchoir.ca

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

Listing information:

Ottawa Bach Choir

with Theatre of Early Music baroque orchestra; Daniel Taylor, artistic director

Soloists: countertenor Daniel Taylor, tenor Rufus Müller, bass Matthew Li, violinist and concert master, Adrian Butterfield

Dr. Lisette Canton, conductor                                                   

Baroque Christmas

Saturday, November 26, 2022, 8:00pm

Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, 355 Cooper Street, Ottawa

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

Tickets are available online: www.ottawabachchoir.ca.

Information: info@ottawabachchoir.ca.

The JUNO award-winning Ottawa Bach Choir (OBC) presents the second concert of its 22^nd season, The Maestro of San Marco, on Saturday, March 2, 2024, 8:00 p.m., at Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar Street, in Ottawa. The concert features sacred and profane music by Claudio Monteverdi, who was Maestro di cappella of San Marco in Venice over the course of 30 years, from 1613-1643. Works include his Messa a quattro voci da cappella and selected Madrigals from Books 1-8, a prolific output of works that marked the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque. The choir is joined by a chamber instrumental ensemble and soloists from the choir.

“We are delighted to present rarely heard music by the Italian Baroque master, Claudio Monteverdi, which traces the journey from the balanced counterpoint of the Renaissance to the dramatic text-inspired music of the Baroque,” says Founder and Artistic Director, Lisette Canton. “Experience this passionate music in both the sacred and profane contexts – you’re sure to be inspired!”

The Ottawa Bach Choir, founded in 2002 by Dr. Lisette Canton, offers audiences a wide range of choral music of the finest quality, performing music from all historical periods while keeping Bach’s choral oeuvre as the focus of its repertoire. 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, and returned from the prestigious international festival, Bachfest Leipzig, in June 2022. The OBC has toured extensively in Canada, Europe, the United States and China, and had the honour of being the first Canadian choir ever to be among the performers in Bachfest Leipzig 2014. The choir’s eighth album, Johann Sebastian Bach: Six Motets, on the ATMA Classique label, critically acclaimed as “one of the finest on record” (The WholeNote), is available on all streaming platforms as well as on the choir’s website.

For interviews and information, please contact:

Karen Frank, General Manager, karen.frank@ottawabachchoir.ca

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

Listing information:

Ottawa Bach Choir

with chamber ensemble and soloists

Lisette Canton, conductor

The Maestro of San Marco

Saturday, March 2, 2024, 8:00 p.m.

Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar Street, Ottawa

Tickets: Reserved $55, Adult $45, Senior $40, Student $20, Children 12 and under free

Tickets are available online: www.ottawabachchoir.ca

Information: info@ottawabachchoir.ca

Ottawa (Canada) – The JUNO award-winning Ottawa Bach Choir (OBC) presents the final concert of the season, Gloria!, on Saturday, May 10, 2025, 7:30 PM, at St. Patrick’s Basilica, in Ottawa. The concert features a selection of Italian-influenced baroque masterpieces, including Vivaldi’s Gloria, RV 589, Handel’s Laudate pueri Dominum, HWV 237, and Chiara Margarita Cozzolani’s Dixit Dominus a 8. Joined by Ensemble Caprice baroque orchestra and spectacular soloists, this concert reflects the vibrant energy and expressive intensity of the Italian baroque style, and closes the season with splendour!

“Prepare to be Immersed in the brilliance of the Italian Baroque with music by Vivaldi, Handel, and the rarely-performed Cozzolani, including compositions written in Venice, Rome and Milan.” says Founder and Artistic Director, Dr. Lisette Canton. “Performed with the distinguished Baroque orchestra Ensemble Caprice and soloists, Ottawa audiences won’t want to miss the passion and grandeur of Italian baroque splendour.”

Founded in 2002 by Dr. Lisette Canton, the Ottawa Bach Choir offers audiences a wide range of choral music of the finest quality, performing music from all historical periods while keeping Bach’s choral oeuvre as the focus of its repertoire. The choir has garnered acclaim through award-winning recordings and worldwide tours, including in Canada, Europe, the United States, Mexico and China, featuring prestigious appearances at Bachfest Leipzig, Meet in Beijing, Festival Música Santa Fe, Ottawa Chamberfest, Carnegie Hall, and more.

For interviews and information, please contact:

Hannah Lim, General Manager, hannah.lim@ottawabachchoir.ca

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

Listing information:

Ottawa Bach Choir

Vivaldi: Gloria, Handel: Laudate pueri Dominum, and Cozzolani: Dixit Dominus a 8

with Ensemble Caprice baroque orchestra and soloists

Lisette Canton, Conductor

Gloria!

Saturday, May 10, 2025, 7:30 p.m.

St. Patrick’s Basilica, 220 Kent Street, Ottawa

Tickets: Reserved $55, Adult $45, Senior $40, Student $20, Children 12 and under free

Tickets are available online: www.ottawabachchoir.ca

Information: info@ottawabachchoir.ca

Who: Ottawa Bach Choir, Lisette Canton, conductor, Jennifer Loveless, organ
Where: St. Matthew’s Church
Reviewed on: Saturday, May 10, 2014 – 8 PM

OTTAWA — Lisette Canton and her Ottawa Bach Choir concluded their 12th season Saturday evening with an eclectic program that will form the backbone of their five-city European tour in June. There was only one work by Bach, but a feast of music from every century from the 16th through the 20th was presented. And a couple of modern folk song arrangements were thrown in as a kind of dessert.

The program’s centrepiece was the Bach Motet, Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 225 a work that the choir will sing in Leipzich’s Thomaskirche, the very church where the great composer spent more than half of his career. Although the performance was good, conductor Lisette Canton will probably want to polish up the melisma, and even the intonation in one or two spots in the first movement. The melisma in the Alleluja was excellent

Also on the program were works by Giovanni and Andrea Gabrielli, the latter composer’s Missa Brevis in F being especially beautiful and, like virtually every item on the program, sung to best effect. Palestrina’s Ave Maria for Five Voices was another fine listening experience.

Heinrich Hassler’s Tibi laus, Tibi gloria ushered in a series of German works, two of them by Buxtehude. (The choir will also be performing in Lübeck, where Buxtehude spent most of his working life.) The first of them was a two-movement Missa Brevis, which has a sunny sound for Lutheran church music of the time.

The next was the Toccata in D minor, an organ piece played nicely by Jennifer Loveless who will be accompanying the choir on the tour – accompanying in both senses of the word.

The pearl of the first half of the program was the Deutsches Magnificat by Heinrich Schutz. Schutz was one of the greatest composers of the first decades of the 17th century, and certainly the greatest of the Germans. The Magnificat is a work of the greatest depth and beauty, and Canton and her choir rendered it just so.

Organist Loveless introduced the 19th-century segment with a sonata movement by Mendelssohn, then Canton led the choir in Calmes des nuits by Saint-Saëns.

A selection of works by living composers Rupert Lang, Eric Whitacre and Nicholas Piper followed and were followed in their turn by folk song arrangements by Diane Loomer and Moses Hogan, all of them lovely and even haunting.

By the way, the soloists were all drawn from the choir and were all terrific.

DONATE BETWEEN JUNE 1 AND JUNE 30, 2016

The Great Canadian Giving Challenge is a contest sponsored by CanadaHelps that will give the Ottawa Bach Choir a chance to win a $10,000 prize! Every dollar donated between June 1 and June 30 gives the choir another chance at winning the grand prize. All donations will receive a tax receipt issued by CanadaHelps on behalf of the Ottawa Bach Choir.

Please consider giving through this wonderful opportunity so that the OBC can share with you a special 15th anniversary season in 2016-2017. Sponsor Ottawa’s professional choir in one of the following suggested categories, or with another amount that is meaningful for you:

• Student Chorister: $250 
• Community & Educational Outreach: $500 
• Professional Chorister: 1,000
• Soloist: $1,500
• Canadian Composer: $2,500
• A Cappella Concert: $5,000
• Sponsor our upcoming 6th CD: $7,500
• Concert with Orchestra: $10,000

Thank you for making us a part of your musical life!

Participate by clicking the image above, or by visiting https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-ottawa-bach-choir/#donate_now

This sensational season, the Choir presented an Ottawa debut performance of the Levin version of Mozart’s Requiem in We Will Remember Them on Remembrance Day, a performance of Baroque music and seasonal favourites at the Museum of Civilization, and a new recording, Jesu, meine Freude, of Bach cantatas BWV 4, 78 and the motet, Jesu, meine Freude, with Agnes Zsigovics, Daniel Taylor, Benjamin Butterfield, Daniel Lichti and baroque orchestra playing on period instruments. The choir also travelled to Almonte for a Christmas Potpourri, to Southern Ontario for concerts and workshops in Toronto and finished the season with masterclasses and a performance at Podium 2008 in Sackville, New Brunswick.