Welcome to the home page of The Reading Bach Choir.
We are a dynamic choir of 40 to 50 auditioned voices based in Reading, performing everything from Renaissance masterpieces to bold contemporary works. Under the inspiring direction of Daniel Mahoney, the choir is known for adventurous programmes and expressive, high-quality concerts.
On these pages you can find details of our upcoming events, sign up for our occasional newsletters and find information on joining the choir.
Bonfire of the Vanities
Saturday 7th February at 7.30 pm
St Thomas of Canterbury Church,
Goring-on-Thames, RG8 9DS
BUY TICKETS
On Shrove Tuesday 1497, the Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola and his supporters the Piagnoni—the Weepers—set fire to thousands of objects of temptation collected from the citizens of Florence in an event known as the Bonfire of the Vanities.
Books, art, and other items were burned in the Piazza della Signoria on a pyre featuring an effigy of Satan atop levels representing each of the deadly sins. Months later, the controversial preacher was excommunicated. The following year, Savonarola was burned at the stake for heresy in the same public square.
In the days before his death, the friar wrote his two most significant works while imprisoned. These works went on to inspire numerous compositions based on his meditations of the Psalms.
Over five hundred years later, Reading Bach Choir explores these historical events through music from Renaissance Italy to the 20th century. Works by Isaac and Gesualdo sit side-by-side with Britten and Pierre Villette. The Choir will sing settings of Savonarola’s meditations by Claude le Jeune, William Byrd and Ēriks Ešenvalds alongside reflections on sin by American composers Eric Whitacre and Irving Fine.
Tickets £18 in advance online, £20 on the door. £5 for under 18s
We are recruiting
Saturday 7th February at 7.30 pmSt Thomas of Canterbury Church,
Goring-on-Thames, RG8 9DS
BUY TICKETS
On Shrove Tuesday 1497, the Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola and his supporters the Piagnoni—the Weepers—set fire to thousands of objects of temptation collected from the citizens of Florence in an event known as the Bonfire of the Vanities.
Books, art, and other items were burned in the Piazza della Signoria on a pyre featuring an effigy of Satan atop levels representing each of the deadly sins. Months later, the controversial preacher was excommunicated. The following year, Savonarola was burned at the stake for heresy in the same public square.
In the days before his death, the friar wrote his two most significant works while imprisoned. These works went on to inspire numerous compositions based on his meditations of the Psalms.
Over five hundred years later, Reading Bach Choir explores these historical events through music from Renaissance Italy to the 20th century. Works by Isaac and Gesualdo sit side-by-side with Britten and Pierre Villette. The Choir will sing settings of Savonarola’s meditations by Claude le Jeune, William Byrd and Ēriks Ešenvalds alongside reflections on sin by American composers Eric Whitacre and Irving Fine.
Tickets £18 in advance online, £20 on the door. £5 for under 18s
We are recruiting
Click here for more information
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