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The Ottawa Bach Choir (= OBC), founded in 2002 by Dr. Lisette Canton, offers audiences a wide range of choral music of the finest quality, performing music from all historical periods while keeping J.S. Bach's choral oeuvre as the focus of its repertoire. Through a combination of both a scholarly and emotional approach to choral music, the professional chamber ensemble expands all aspects of the artistic spectrum. Joining some of Canada’s most accomplished artists and top choristers from the National Capital region and beyond, the choir has received national and international recognition as one of Ottawa’s most outstanding choral ensembles.
The aim of the OBC is threefold:
* to offer audiences in Ottawa and beyond a range of classical music of the finest quality and excellence;
* to use the Choir’s skill and talent to benefit the community; and
* to provide challenging opportunities for high calibre singers - including up-and-coming young singers – to enjoy choral performances with others of similar skills and abilities.
The OBC - combining the names of the world’s greatest composer with one of the world’s greatest cities - has made great strides and brought music to an even higher level in Ottawa’s flourishing classical music scene. The OBC has appeared in Toronto and Montreal, including a performance at Daniel Taylor’s Early Music Festival in cooperation with the Montreal Chamber Music Festival. In 2003-2004 season, the OBC was invited to sing George Frideric Handel’s Messiah in Mexico City with the Orquesta del Nuevo Mundo for which it received a standing ovation and excellent reviews. During the 2004-2005 season the OBC was recorded live in collaboration with the radio station of Radio-Canada for national broadcast during the Christmas season, and released two CD's. They have performed J.S. Bach’s Mass in B Minor (BWV 232), Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248), St. Matthew Passion (BWV 244), Six Motets (BWV 225-230), Magnificat (BWV 243), Missa in G Minor (BWV 235), G.F. Handel’s Dixit Dominus, Heinrich Schütz’ Musikalische Exequien, as well as various Baroque cantatas, Romantic and Contemporary Motets, and French Choral Music.
The Ottawa Bach Choir performs a large subscription concert series in Ottawa and travels extensively in Canada and abroad. In 2020, the choir has been invited to return to Bachfest Leipzig as one of 40 ensembles worldwide (and the only Canadian ensemble) to present J.S. Bach’s entire chorale cantata cycle, as well as to tour in China and other parts of Asia as part of the China International Chorus Festival. In 2016, the OBC toured China, where it was invited to represent Canada at the festival, Meet in Beijing, in Beijing and Shanghai. In 2014, the choir received an invitation to perform in the prestigious international festival, Bachfest Leipzig 2014, the first Canadian choir to receive such an invitation. The choir made its debut at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 2011, and has performed in London, Paris, Venice, Amsterdam, Bayreuth, Leipzig, Stuttgart, Prague, Vienna, and more. Past appearances have also included concerts at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto, the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and numerous cities and festivals across Canada.
The OBC was invited as the first Canadian choir to perform and take over the duties of the world renowned Thomanerchor Leipzig in May 2005 at the J.S. Bach's own church in Leipzig, Germany, the Thomaskirche, and again in 2007 and 2009. The OBC is the first Canadian choir, and one of only six choirs worldwide that are invited annually to perform in. The OBC were in the company of such world-class choirs as The Monteverdi Choir and the Gabrieli Consort. For three days, the ensemble replaced the Thomanerchor Leipzig, which has its roots back as far as 1250. They performed two concerts, as well as leading the services of worship in this magnificent church. In addition, the OBC performed in the prestigious concert series in the Stiftskirche, Stuttgart.
In addition to its successful performances of all of J.S. Bach’s major works, the OBC has sung sacred and secular works from all musical periods, and collaborated with numerous national and international artists and ensembles. The choir also engages in an educational outreach program each season, and has performed in over 45 schools in the Ottawa-Carleton region.
The OBC has been broadcast nationwide on CBC Radio 1 and Radio 2, as well as on Radio-Canada. The choir has recorded seven CD's to critical acclaim, including Handel, Bach & Schtz on the ATMA Classique label (2019), 'Twas But Pure Love (2016), Cantate Domino (2011), Jesu, meine Freude (2008), A Christmas Story (2005) and Festival Baroque (2005). The choir’s most recent broadcasts have been heard across the nation on CBC Radio Two and on Radio-Canada’s ICI musique. |
