The Thirteen to Perform Bach’s Early Masses and Instrumental Favorites in March Concert Series
By • March 9, 2026 0 697
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The Washington, D.C.–based professional choir and orchestra The Thirteen will present a program devoted to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach in a series of performances March 13–15 across the Washington metropolitan area.
Titled “Bach: The Early Masses II,” the program concludes the ensemble’s multi-year survey of Bach’s four short masses. The performances follow the group’s 2025 program, “The Early Masses I,” which was praised by critics for its stirring interpretation of the composer’s sacred works.
Handel’s Messiah. Photo by Britt Olsen.
Under the direction of Artistic Director Matthew Robertson, the concerts will feature Bach’s Mass in A Major and Mass in G Minor, alongside two of the composer’s most celebrated instrumental pieces: the Concerto for Two Violins in D minor and Brandenburg Concerto No. 5.
Robertson said the combination of vocal and instrumental works offers audiences a broad look at Bach’s artistry. “Hearing these early masses together with two of Bach’s great instrumental concertos offers a thrilling evening with this master composer,” Robertson said. “In the Masses in A Major and G Minor, we encounter Bach’s depth and craft in distilling the full majesty of his mature compositional prowess into digestible delights.”
Though shorter than the composer’s monumental Mass in B Minor, the early masses still showcase the complexity and brilliance associated with Bach’s sacred music. Written during a high point in the composer’s career, the works condense many of the stylistic hallmarks that define his larger compositions.
The instrumental selections highlight another side of Bach’s musical genius. The Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, known for its intricate dialogue between soloists, will feature violinists Adriane Post and Mandy Wolman. The program will also include harpsichordist Adam Pearl and flutist David Ross, performing alongside The Thirteen’s ensemble of twelve professional vocal soloists.
The concerts aim to capture the energy and interplay that characterize Bach’s music, with instrumental virtuosity and choral precision working together to bring the works to life.
Handel’s Messiah. Photon by Britt Olsen.
A special pre-concert event will take place before the Saturday evening performance. At 6:30 p.m. on March 14, author and The New Yorker columnist Paul Elie will give a talk exploring Bach’s legacy and influence. Elie is the author of Reinventing Bach, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award that examines how the composer’s music has shaped modern culture. The book was praised by critics for its research and narrative approach to the enduring appeal of Bach’s work.
The concert series will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 13, at Trinity United Methodist Church. A second performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, followed by the final concert at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at Westmoreland United Methodist Church.
Tickets range from $15 to $70 and are available through The Thirteen’s website.
Founded in Washington, D.C., The Thirteen has built a reputation for innovative programming that spans centuries of vocal music, from early chant to contemporary works and world premieres. Over the past 14 years, the ensemble has been recognized for its precise vocal blend and imaginative performances, while maintaining a mission to connect audiences through music that inspires empathy and community.
