Ming Luke, music director
Samantha Burgess, assistant conductor
Soloists:
Ellen Leslie, soprano
Sara Couden, alto
Brian Thorsett, tenor
Simon Barrad, bass
“For our spring 2025 concert series, BCCO explores two brilliant but lesser-known works of compositional genius, Sergei Taneyev’s John of Damascus and Messe de Requiem by Camille Saint-Saëns. John of Damascus was Taneyev’s first published work; it immediately placed him in the upper echelons of composers during his day,” says BCCO music director, Ming Luke.
Saint-Saëns, known mostly for his orchestral works, wrote the Requiem to honor his great friend and benefactor, Albert Libon. Saint-Saëns’ biographer, Jacques Bonnaure, noted in his 2010 book: “This unjustly neglected Requiem is perhaps the most sensitive, imaginative, and perfect work by the composer, who finds here, more than ever before, a classical balance between form and expression, innovation and tradition, sophisticated compositional style and immediate effect.”
“Both works deserve to be performed more often, and it’s a treat for BCCO to explore these significant works,” says Ming.
Read more about the Program
- Concert preview article in by Janos Gereben in San Francisco Classical Voice
- Digital version of our printed concert program