YORKSHIRE Bach Choir launches its 40th anniversary concert series on Saturday at St Michael le Belfrey, York.

"To mark the occasion, we are pulling out all the stops with a line-up of concerts that includes some of the best choral music in the repertoire," says conductor Peter Seymour.

"Saturday's opening concert explores the glorious sonorities and colour of the Spanish Renaissance and features Victoria’s Officium Defunctorum of 1603, which is arguably the most accomplished Requiem setting of its epoch, along with other psalms and motets by Victoria and Guerrero."

After a sold-out appearance at last year's York Early Music Christmas Festival, Yorkshire Bach Choir returns to the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York, on December 8 with one of Bach’s most glorious musical scores. "His Christmas Oratorio, written for the feast days of Christmas and New Year, present Bach at his most festive and vibrant," says Peter. "Some of the composer’s largest orchestral forces are contrasted with exquisitely beautiful solo instrumental and vocal music. Early booking is advised for a concert that promises to be a choral highlight of the festival."

To start 2019, and to mark 40 years since the month of the first YBC concert, the choir has selected some music sung at that very first concert for a February 9 performance. "This special programme will include Tallis’s haunting setting of the Lamentations, Taverner's Western Wynde Mass, Schütz's Meine Seele Erhebt Den Herren á 4 and, in particularly celebratory mode, Bach’s joyous Jauchzet Dem Herrn Alle Welt," says Peter.

On March 16, the choir presents J S Bach’s monumental St Matthew Passion before rounding out the varied season with an exploration of Tudor church music on May 18 and Mozart and Haydn in Salzburg on June 22.

Tickets for Saturday's 7.30pm concert cost £14, concessions £12, at ncem.co.uk or on 01904 658338.

To start 2019 and to mark our 40 years since the month of the first YBC concert we perform a 9 February concert selecting some music performed at our very first concert. This special programme will include Tallis’ haunting setting of the Lamentations, Taverner Western Wynde Mass, Schütz Meine Seele erhebt den Herren á 4 and, in particularly celebratory mode, Bach’s joyous Jauchzet dem Herrn alle Welt. In March we present JS Bach’s monumental St Matthew Passion in a performance on 16 March. We round out our varied season with an exploration of Tudor Church Music on 18 May and Mozart and Haydn in Salzburg on 22 June.

Full details of ticket prices and season subscriptions can be found on our website. You can save money across the season by subscribing for one of our season tickets. £5 student tickets are also available in advance for all our concerts. All our concerts (except for the December concert at the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall) are performed in the spacious St Michael le Belfrey a historic church in the heart of the city.

Quotes from YBC conductor Peter Seymour:

“As seems only fitting in our anniversary year, we are delighted to be presenting a programme of music that represents some of the things that the choir relish performing. Front and centre are three pieces of music by J.S. Bach, two of his most monumental works (Christmas Oratorio, Matthew Passion) and the joyous Jauchzet dem Herrn alle Welt.”

“Our opening concert presents music by the relatively well-known Tomás Luis de Victoria but also the music of Francisco Guerrero which is equal musical quality and inventiveness.”

“To coincide with our anniversary season we have also recently launched a new look website which I would it encourage you to look at for further details about the choir.”

Tickets:

By post - YBC Tickets, Update with new music(SAE please) In person - National Centre for Early Music, St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York, YO1 9TL (01904) 658338 www.ncem.co.uk Also available on the door