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Bach’s High Mass performed by Haarlem Voices

20 September 2026
- 15:00 – 17:30

In 2026, Haarlem Voices celebrates its twentieth anniversary – a special moment marked by a grand musical project: the performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s *Hohe Messe*. This monumental work from the choral repertoire is widely regarded as something that music lovers simply must hear live at least once in their lifetime. Following an initial performance in the Grote or St. Bavokerk in Haarlem, there is a second opportunity to come and listen on September 20, 2026, in the Westerkerk in Enkhuizen.

*Bach’s ultimate masterpiece*

Bach’s *Mass in B minor*, also known as the *Hohe Messe*, is often seen as the ultimate culmination of a life dedicated to sacred music – a grand and brilliant tapestry of human emotion and spiritual reflection. Bach completed the composition just a year before his death, uniting music written over the years into one overwhelming whole of unity and expressive power. This mass is much more than a liturgical setting: it constitutes Bach’s personal testament – a summary of his musical genius and a gesture of timeless devotion. From the solemn intensity of the Kyrie to the jubilant splendor of the Gloria, with nine completely unique arias and duets, fourteen imposing choral sections, and a wide array of instrumental solos in between. Every passage touches the deeply human.

This special performance offers the audience a rare opportunity to experience one of the greatest masterpieces in Western music history in all its grandeur and intimacy.