Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Bach's Mass in B minor

Chief Conductor Sofi Jeannin and the 麻豆社 Singers are joined by the Academy of Ancient Music for Bach鈥檚 final choral masterpiece, his Mass in B minor.

The 麻豆社 Singers draw their 2025/2026 season to a close with a concert from Milton Court, London in which they join forces with the Academy of Ancient Music under the baton of the Singers鈥� outgoing Chief Conductor, Sofi Jeannin, to perform Bach鈥檚 monumental Mass in B minor. Over the last eight years, Sofi has guided the 麻豆社 Singers through a transformative era which has produced some exceptional music-making, and tonight鈥檚 concert is a fitting celebration of that rich artistic partnership with an exhilarating performance of a work which Richard Wagner deemed "the most stupendous miracle in all music",

A Catholic Mass by a devout Lutheran composer, finished the year before Bach鈥檚 death despite his failing health and eyesight, the Mass in B minor was likely never performed in its entirety during Bach鈥檚 lifetime. Featuring choir and orchestra with extended wind section, strings and continuo, today it is widely regarded as one of the most extraordinary achievements in the classical repertoire. It occupies a unique position in Western music, not only for its scale but for the way it encapsulates the full breadth of Bach鈥檚 compositional language. The work鈥檚 architecture reflects both a deep engagement with tradition and a remarkable vision. The Credo, for instance, evokes the 'stile antico' of the past, while the Confiteor employs a strikingly chromatic language that looks toward the future.

Recorded on 10 May 2026 and presented by Martin Handley.

Bach: Mass in B minor, BWV 232

麻豆社 Singers
Academy of Ancient Music
Rebecca Lea & Alice Gribbin, Ciara Hendrick, Clare Lloyd-Griffith & Peter Davoren, Rebekah Nie脽er-Jones, Timothy Dickinson, Eve McGrath & Nancy Cole, Jamie W Hall, Benjamin Durrant, Katherine Nicholson (soloists)
Sofi Jeannin (conductor)

To listen on most smart speakers, just say "ask 麻豆社 Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert".

2 hours, 14 minutes

Last on

Mon 6 Jul 2026 19:30
麻豆社 Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

麻豆社 Singers with the Ma卯trise of Notre Dame, Paris

Next

Mahler's Resurrection Symphony

See all episodes from Radio 3 in Concert

Recipes

See all recipes from Bach's Mass in B minor

Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Mass in B minor, BWV 232: Part 1

    Choir: 麻豆社 Singers. Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Partita no.1 in B flat major BWV.825 (Praeludium)

    Performer: Sir Andr谩s Schiff.
    • J.S.Bach: Six Partitas BWV825-BWV830.
    • Decca.
    • 1.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Partita no.1 in B flat major BWV.825 (Praeludium)

    Performer: Sir Andr谩s Schiff.
    • J.S. Bach: Six Partitas BWV825-BWV830.
    • Decca.
    • 1.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Partita No.1 in B flat major, BWV825: III. Corrente

    Performer: Sir Andr谩s Schiff.
    • J.S. Bach: Six Partitas BWV825-BWV830.
    • Decca.
    • 1.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Mass in B minor, BWV 232: Part 2

    Choir: 麻豆社 Singers. Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Robert Schumann

    No.3 from Three Romances, Op.94

    Performer: Oleg Shebeta-Dragan. Performer: Gunnar Mextorf.

Broadcast

  • Mon 6 Jul 2026 19:30
    麻豆社 Radio 3