This weekend, the West London Bach Consort and Players resume their ambitious Millennium project to play all 200 of Bach's sacred cantatas.

 

The first concert of the 2002 season will take place at St Michael and All Angels Church, Bedford Park, London W4 on Sunday evening, April 14th at 7:30.

 

The project, which has become a popular feature of music making in West London, began in 1997 and so far the players have performed almost 50 of the cantatas. At this rate, they should complete the cycle in 2012!

 

Sandy Burnett, conductor of the West London Bach Players and a regular presenter on BBC Radio 3, said: "We have been fortunate over the years to call on a superb array of vocal talent, but we must not forget how important the instruments are in these works too. It's been most satisfying
to hear a characteristically Baroque sound coming together."

 

Two Bach cantatas will be performed in this Sunday's concert, both of them written for Eastertide; BWV 104, Du Hirte Israel, höre and BWV 134, Ein Herz, das seinen Jesum leben weiss. The soloists are Lucy Ballard [alto], Samir Savant [tenor] and Matthew Altham [bass].

 

Admission to the concerts is free, with a retiring collection in aid of the Church Hall Fund.

 

Further concerts will take place at monthly intervals, on Sunday May 12th and Sunday June 9th, resuming in September.

Further details from Torin Douglas, publicity co-ordinator, St Michael & All Angels - 020 8624 9052