The goal of the Trinity Bach Project is to bring Bach’s choral works to audiences without the elitism that’s often associated with classical music, and sacred music in particular. Their Heart, Mouth, Deed, Life concert takes place at the Trinity Saint Paul Centre on January 19 and 20.
The Trinity Bach Project combines vocal and instrumental artists in an ensemble dedicated to J.S. Bach’s choral repertoire. Despite his enduring popularity as a composer, his sacred cantatas are seldom performed. That’s part of the ensemble’s mandate.
The concert is part of their six-concert 2023-24 season.
Trinity Bach Project
Louise Zacharias Friesen is the artistic director, and Nicholas Nicolaidis is the music director of the Trinity Bach Project, currently in its second season. The ensemble falls under the umbrella of Imago Arts, a registered charity dedicated to supporting the arts as an essential part of the human experience.
Louise Zacharias Friesen is a pianist and vocalist. She earned an ARCT in Piano Performance and a Bachelor of Church Music in Winnipeg, followed by a Bachelor of Music in Piano from UBC. She has performed extensively as part of a piano duo, and for seven seasons as a soprano with the ensemble Pro Coro Canada.
Nicholas Nicolaidis is a musician, tenor, conductor, and voice teacher. A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, he studied voice for four years after coming in as a runner-up in the Golden Voice of South Africa competition. He earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of the Witwatersrand, and went on to post graduate studies at the Royal College of Music in London, UK. A lyric tenor, he specializes in oratorio, along with jazz. He began conducting while still at the Drakensberg Boy’s Choir School. Nicholas emigrated to Toronto in 2019, and has performed with the Elora Singers, among other ensembles.
Orchestral director Michelle Odorico leads the ensemble in performance. Michelle Odorico received her Master’s degree at the University of Toronto specializing in Baroque violin. She is a member of the Elixir Baroque Ensemble, and Windermere String Quartet, and performs frequently with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, the Talisker Players, and other Baroque ensembles.
The instrumental ensemble itself varies in size, and can range from five to up to 15 musicians depending on the program. Instrumentation may include organ, oboe, flute, trumpet, bassoon, and strings.
They are based at the Trinity College Chapel at the University of Toronto, and are dedicated to preserving the original spiritual message of the music. Their concerts take place in churches rather than concert halls to offer a more intimate atmosphere.
From their October 13, 2023 performance at the Metropolitan United Church:
Heart, Mouth, Deed, Life
The concert will explore the themes of devotion and longing. The repertoire begins with J.S. Bach, of course, but extends to contemporary choral music. The program includes:
- Bach’s Cantata BWV 147 “Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben”
- Bach’s Violin Concerto in A minor (BWV 1041) with guest violinist, Elisa Citterio of Italy.
Citterio served as the first Music Director of Tafelmusik after the departure of Jeanne Lamon, and has since gone back to the life of a chamber musician. She performs frequently in her native Italy, and has a discography of more than 35 recordings of Baroque and classical music.
More information about the January 19 and 20 concerts and tickets available [HERE].
Are you looking to promote an event? Have a news tip? Need to know the best events happening this weekend? Send us a note.
#LUDWIGVAN
Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.