Helmuth Rilling leads the USC Thornton Choral Artists in Bach’s Mass in B Minor. The work explores the meanings of faith, religion and spirituality through Bach’s emotional, mathematical, musical and structural treatment of the Latin text. Renowned sacred-music scholar Dr. Nick Strimple will lead a pre-concert lecture on the historical importance and relevance of this colossal work. 

Helmuth Rilling’s self-described credo is: “Music should startle people and reach deep down inside them, forcing them to reflect. It should never be merely ‘comfortable,’ never fossilized, never soothing.” Born in 1933 in Stuttgart, Mr. Rilling is a conductor, educator and ambassador for the music of Johann Sebastian Bach worldwide. He founded the Gächinger Kantorei and later the Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, serving as the choir’s regular orchestral partner. In 1981, Mr. Rilling founded the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart, which was dedicated to furthering the music of J.S. Bach through public concerts, master classes, symposia and residencies throughout the world. Mr. Rilling is dedicated to encouraging young musicians; in 2001, he founded the Festivalensemble Stuttgart, consisting of a choir and orchestra that drew talented young musicians from 25 different countries. Furthering this tradition of excellence, the USC Thornton Choral Artists — with soloists Jessica Rivera, Elissa Johnston, Helene Urigu Quintana, Christopher Cock and Christòpheren Nomura — greatly anticipate the chance to perform with one of the world’s great conductors.

6:30 p.m. Pre-concert lecture by Dr. Nick Strimple
7:30 p.m. Concert

Organized by the USC Thornton School of Music