New York Baroque Incorporated (NYBI), the vibrant, young Big-Apple based period instrument ensemble, will make its Carnegie Hall debut on February 9, 2017, collaborating with MasterVoices (formerly The Collegiate Chorale) in a new English-language translation of J. S. Bach’s St. John Passion. The performance, in Carnegie’s Stern Auditorium, celebrates the 75th anniversary of the founding of The Collegiate Chorale by legendary choral conductor Robert Shaw.

For NYBI’s Artistic Director Wen Yang, debuting at Carnegie with the St. John Passion couldn’t be more appropriate. “My introduction to Robert Shaw was his recording of Handel’s Messiah with his Robert Shaw Chorale, which he established seven years after founding The Collegiate Chorale. The captivating recording made me appreciate for the first time the beauty and power of 100-plus voices singing together. There couldn't be a better piece than the St. John Passion to express such beauty and the spirit of community. To be a part of the 75th anniversary celebration of Shaw’s Collegiate Chorale and pay tribute to his leadership and vision is an honor for musicians of our generation.”

NYBI’s Carnegie debut marks the ensemble's first collaboration with MasterVoices and the choir’s artistic director Ted Sperling. Honoring the vision of Robert Shaw, who believed the Passion should be a communal experience, the performance will incorporate audience participation, with audience members invited to join in the choruses, complimenting the 150-strong MasterVoices. The choir will make the musical material available to the public in advance as well as providing scores with the printed program on the day of the performance. In addition, MasterVoices will host a combined group rehearsal the evening before the Carnegie concert.

Tenor Michael Slattery, who will sing the role of Evangelist, has created a new, modern English translation of the St. John Passion, following in the footsteps of Robert Shaw who created his own English translation of the St. John Passion. Slattery and Ted Sperling discuss the new translation, the February 9 concert at Carnegie Hall and collaboration with New York Baroque Incorporated in this You Tube video.

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For further information about New York Baroque Incorporated please visit http://nybaroque.org 

For further information, image or interview requests please contact Melanne Mueller, MusicCo International, +1 917 907 2785, melanne@musiccointernational.com

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Thursday, February 9 – 7:00pm
J. S. Bach (1685 – 1750) St. John Passion
New York Baroque Incorporated with
Michael Slattery tenor – Evangelist
Jesse Blumberg baritone – Jesus
Adam Lau bass – Pilate
Latonia Moore soprano
Tamara Mumford mezzo-soprano
Ben Bliss tenor
Daniel Okulitch bass-baritone
MasterVoices
Ted Sperling conductor

Carnegie Hall
Stern Auditorium
57th Street & Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019