The Camarata Music Company Chorale and Orchestra, a group of mainly expats living in Seoul, will hold a concert featuring J.S. Bach’s Mass in B Minor on May 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Chungdong First Methodist Church.

Bach’s Mass in B Minor, a compilation of 24 small pieces arranged in five acts, is called “one of the pinnacles of human achievement” by novelist Douglas Adams and “the greatest work of music of all ages and of all peoples” by critic and publisher Hans-Georg Ngeli. It was one of the German composer’s last pieces and therefore is considered a culmination of essentially everything Bach had studied throughout his musicianship. 

Ryan Goessl will lead the choir and orchestra joined by soloists including soprano Han Myung-sung, countertenor Jung Min-ho, and tenors Kim Bok-nam and Bass Park Young-hwan for its 14th regular concert.

Camarata Music Company, consisting of a Chorale, Chamber Singers and Orchestra, performs popular classical music compositions, from the Renaissance to the contemporary.

Founded in 2009, the nonprofit group said it has been providing “an intense and distinct musical experience for all performers and listeners.”

Part of the proceeds from the event will go to establishing a music program in a local orphanage and low-income areas as well as a performing arts program for children from multicultural families.

Tickets are priced at 25,000 won but early birds can purchase tickets for 15,000 won each. An additional 10 percent discount is offered to groups of 20 or more people who purchase the tickets in advance.

To buy tickets, one should make a bank transfer to “Camarata Music Company” at Shinhan Bank (account number 140-008-898378) and send an email to tickets@camaratamusic.com. For more information, call (02) 790-9675, (010) 9806-8655 (English) or (010) 9146-0727 (Korean).

The Camarata Music Company Chorale and Orchestra will be performing Bach’s Mass in B Minor on May 11 at Chungdong First Methodist Church, Seoul.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)