Orcas Center proudly presents a rare version of Bach’s B-minor Mass performed by the Orcas Choral Society at Orcas Center on Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 19 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $25, $19 for Orcas Center members, $11 for students, and may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org, by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office.

Joining the 50-voice chorus on stage will be the Orcas Boy Choir, Orcas Festival Orchestra, the Turtleback Brass and distinguished soloists Sharon Abreu, Naomi Aldort, Madeline Bersamina, José Luis Muñoz and Charles Robert Stephens. A free seminar by Artistic Director Roger Sherman will be at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Tuesday, April 14 at noon, and at 6:45 p.m. before the Saturday performance at Orcas Center.

The mass is rarely performed because of its difficulty and length.  Composed in two stages, the original work from 1733 consists only of the Kyrie and Gloria sections of the mass, with the rest of the mass being added in Bach’s last two years. The first usable performance edition based on the 1733 score was published only last summer, and it is this version which will be presented by the Orcas Choral Society. Orcas Islanders will hear one of the first performances of this version anywhere in the world.  Unlike the 1749 version, the 1733 version is only one hour long, and contains many of the most famous movements.

The story of the B-minor Mass, how and why it came into existence and what happened to it after Bach’s death will be explored at the seminar.