"Messe H-moll" by Bach, J. S., De la (2016/2016), Dirijor Philippe Jordan, Wiener Konzerthaus, Vienna, Austria

A "harrowing event": the words chosen by daily newspaper Die Presse to describe Philippe Jordan and the Wiener Symphoniker's St Matthew Passion of March 2015. This performance marked the realisation of a long-nurtured dream on the part of the conductor and the orchestra to perform Bach's orations together. Having started with a bang, the series continues with the High Mass, one of the "greatest musical works of all time and of all peoples", as formulated by the original publisher Hans G. Nägeli in 1818. In spite of – or perhaps even because of – the fact that this mass was over two decades in the making, it occupies a special place, and not just biographically. With its multiformity of arias and duets, fugal and concerto-like choruses, the combination of stile antico and stile modern mirror the essence of Bach's true skill and personal style. This performance, under the direction of head conductor Philippe Jordan, promises to be another musical highlight: the soloists - Werner Güra and Wiebke Lehmkuhl among them - are of the highest calibre and have been part of the project since the very beginning. In cooperation with the Festival OsterKlang Wien 2016 and the Wiener Konzerthaus Society.