Death and Transformation

The Easter cantata Christ lag in Todesbanden was written by a young J.S. Bach, and the Requiem in f minor by his predecessor Heinrich Biber, are a study in contrasts. Featuring the SFBC’s chamber ensemble, Concentus, and an orchestra of early strings, these two beautiful works present unexpected views of death and rebirth: the Biber, a wild, almost exuberant farewell to the dead, and the Bach, a stately and calm tribute to resurrection. To complete this unusual program, David Babbitt, SFBC Artistic Director and well-known organ soloist, will present Handel’s Organ Concerto No. 4 in F Major on the choir’s recently commissioned German baroque-style pipe organ.