Santa Rosa Symphony And Sonoma County Bach Choir Present A Bach Christmas Celebration In 3 Area Churches

News Release Contact: Sara Obuchowski, (707) 546-7097 ext 218

October 26, 2005

(SANTA ROSA, CA) ö The 2005 holiday offering from the Santa Rosa Symphony is once again a collaboration with the Sonoma County Bach Choir, under the direction of SRS Choral Director Robert Worth. Symphony members and the choir will be joined in A Bach Christmas Celebration by soprano Jenni Samuelson, mezzo soprano Elspeth Franks, tenor Brian Staufenbiel and baritone Hugh Davies to present magnificent Latin church pieces by the greatest composer of the Baroque era, Johann Sebastian Bach.

Audiences will hear The Magnificat, which contains one of the most beautiful alto/tenor duets in the vocal repertoire, as well as the uplifting Sanctus in D major; Cantata 191: Gloria in Excelsis Deo and the Third Orchestral Suite.
ãThis program features some of Bachâs most festive seasonal music and includes the joyous sound of brass, strings and winds accompanying the choir and soloists in brilliant settings of well-loved Christmas texts,ä said Worth.

The concerts will begin at 8 p.m. at the following venues: St. Vincent De Paul Church in Petaluma on Friday, December 2; St. Eugeneâs Cathedral in Santa Rosa on Saturday, December 3; and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Windsor on Sunday, December 4.

All tickets are $20 and should be purchased in advance from the Santa Rosa Symphony box office: 54-MUSIC. (707-546-8742)

A Bach Christmas Celebration is underwritten by Maureen and Donald Green, the Donald and Maureen Green Foundation, and the Bank of Petaluma.

The Sonoma County Bach Choir, under the direction of Robert Worth, is a group of 50-60 singers specializing in the music of the Baroque period, with special emphasis on Johann Sebastian Bach. For further information about the Sonoma County Choral Society and the other ensembles under its umbrella, visit www.sonomachoral.org.