JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

B Minor Mass

Friday 24th April 2026, 7pm | Holywell Music Room, Oxford

With the Waterperry Opera Festival Baroque Orchestra.

Bach’s magnificent mass was one of the last pieces he completed, and is a testament to his art and deep faith. The work is a compendium of all the styles of which Bach was a master, and both looks forward to the music of later composers, and backwards to the traditions that Bach was steeped in.

Distinguished singers, including Hilary Cronin and Nathan Mercieca returning from Waterperry’s recent Semele production are joined by the Waterperry Opera Festival Baroque orchestra under the baton of Bertie Baigent to tackle this monumental work.

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There will be a second performance of the B Minor Mass on Saturday 25th April at St. Marylebone Parish Church. Please see their website for more information.

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Creative Team

Conductor | Bertie Baigent

Soloists

Soprano Soloist | Hilary Cronin

Soprano Soloist | Ella Taylor

Countertenor Soloist | Nathan Mercieca

Tenor Soloist | William Anderson

Baritone Soloist | Christopher Webb

The Music

Bach’s Mass in B minor stands as one of the greatest achievements in Western classical music - monumental in scale, profound in expression, and astonishing in its craftsmanship.

While powerful choral movements such as the opening Kyrie or the exultant Gloria are among its most celebrated moments, the Mass in B minor is equally compelling in its intimacy. Movements like the serene Et incarnatus est or the radiant Agnus Dei offer moments of stillness and reflection, revealing Bach’s unmatched ability to express depth of feeling through the simplest musical lines.

Whether you are encountering the work for the first time or returning to it with renewed attention, immerse yourself in this extraordinary masterpiece and discover why Bach’s Mass in B minor continues to inspire awe more than two centuries after it was completed..

FAQs

  • Our performance of Bach’s B Minor Mass will last for approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, including a 20 minute interval.

  • The auditorium is historic with steeply raked seating. Patrons with mobility concerns are advised to book seats towards the front.

    The venue is not fully wheelchair accessible. Please contact us in advance if you have access requirements, and we will do our best to assist.