Past Concerts
2025 Concerts
Carmina Burana, Carl Orff
19 September 2025
Melbourne Recital Centre
Melbourne Bach Choir
Australian Children’s Choir
Elyane Laussade and Kathryn Pisani, pianos
Jane Magao Soprano, Robert Macfarlane Tenor and Christopher Hiller Baritone
Percussion ensemble led by Brent Miller, timpani
Conducted by: Rick Prakhoff
Music from Notre-Dame
21 June 2025
St John’s Anglican Church, Camberwell
Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir
Calvin Bowman, Organ
Conducted by: Rick Prakhoff and Hamish Madden
Cesar Franck Psalm 150
Louis Vierne, Symphony No 1, Prelude, Organ Calvin Bowman
Camille Saint-Saens Four Motets
Henryk Gorecki Totus Tuus
Olivier Messiaen O Sacrum Convivium
Paul Hindemith Six Chansons MBC Scholars
Louis Vierne Symphony No 1 Allegro Vivace Organ Calvin Bowman
Charles-Marie Widor Messe Op 36 arr Huntington
JS Bach St John Passion
18 April 2025
Melbourne Recital Centre
Melbourne Bach Choir
Melbourne Baroque Orchestra
Christopher Watson, Evangelist, Christopher Hillier Jesus
Jaqueline Porter, Soprano, Sally-Anne Russell Mezzo-soprano, Timothy Reynolds Tenor, Simon Meadows Bass
Conducted by: Rick Prakhoff
2024 Concerts
Christmas Fanfare 2024
30 November 2024
St John’s Anglican Church Camberwell
JS Bach Brich an, o schoenes Morgenlicht, Vom Himmel Hoch da Komm ich her
Old German Tune, arr Pearsall In Dulci Jubilo
William Ballet Lute-book Lullaby
William Byrd O magnum mysterium, Beata Virgo
Benjamin Britten A boy was born
Hamish Madded Carmina Natalis
Gustav Holst Four old English Carols, Christmas Day
Piae Cantiones, arr Jacques Good King
Wenceslas
English Trad. arr Jacques The holly and the ivy
Este’s Psalter While shepherds watched their flocks
English trad. arr Sullivan It came upon a midnight clear
Anon. arr Willcocks Fanfare and O come all ye faithful
English trad arr Willcocks The first Nowell
Felix Mendelssohn Fanfare and Hark the Herald Angels sing
Melbourne Bach Choir and Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir
Calvin Bowman Organ
Trumpets Nic Corkeron and Sarah Henderson
Trombone Kit Millais
Horn Corey East-Bryans
Tuba Naomi Eagar
Conducted by: Rick Prakhoff and Jessica Zuk
Verdi Messa da Requiem
14 September 2024
Melbourne Town Hall
Giuseppe Verdi Requiem
Melbourne Bach Choir
Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra
Miriam Gordon-Stewart Soprano, Belinda Paterson Mezzo-soprano, Tomas Dalton Tenor, Christopher Hillier Baritone
Conducted by: Rick Prakhoff
Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir Eternal Light
30 June 2024, 3:00 pm
Auburn Uniting Church, 81 Oxley Road, Hawthorn VIC 3122
JS Bach Jesu meine Freude, O Mensch bewein dein Sunde gross
Anne Cawrse Requiem
Morten Lauridsen Lux Aeterna
Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir
Calvin Bowman Organ
Soloists: Olivia Cranwell Soprano, Sally-Anne Russell Mezzo-soprano, Andrew Goodwin Tenor, Christopher Hillier Baritone
Conducted by: Rick Prakhoff
Melbourne Bach Choir in Concert
Bach, Mozart & Mendelssohn
21 April 2024, 3:00 pm
All Saints’ Anglican Church
WA Mozart Litaniae lauretanae K 109
JS Bach Easter Oratorio
Felix Mendelssohn Jesu meine Freude
JS Bach Ascension Oratorio
Melbourne Bach Choir and Melbourne Bach Orchestra
Conducted by: Rick Prakhoff
Soloists: Olivia Cranwell Soprano Sally-Anne Russell Mezzo-soprano Andrew Goodwin Tenor Christopher Hillier Baritone
2023 Concerts
A Christmas Fanfare – Brighton
2 December 2023, 7:30 pm
St Andrew’s Anglican Church, 228 New Street, Brighton Vic 3186
A Christmas Fanfare-Ballarat
9 December 2023, 2:30 pm
Ballarat Central Uniting Church, 103 Lydiard Street South, Ballarat Vic 3350
Melbourne Bach Choir Guest Performance
Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra – 90th Birthday Concert
10 September, Melbourne Town Hall
Mahler Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection”
Serenity
Ballarat: Ballarat Central Uniting Church, Saturday 24 June 2023
Melbourne: Scots’ Church, Saturday 1 July 2023
A concert of French and German music spanning two centuries, including Duruflé’s Requiem (1948) as well as shorter works by JS Bach, Brahms, Duruflé, Fauré, Messiaen and Rheinberger
Easter Concerts 2023
St John Passion – 7 April 2023
Melbourne Recital Centre
Handel’s Messiah – 9 April 2023
Melbourne Recital Centre
2022 Concerts
26 November 2022 | Ballarat Central Uniting Church
19 November 2022 | St Paul’s Cathedral Melbourne
Baroque Gems for Advent
A concert of joyful works by JS Bach to herald Advent, with two favourite cantatas, No.140 Wachet auf! (Sleepers awake!) and No.62 Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (Come, Saviour of the nations), the double-chorus motet Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf BWV226 , as well as the festive Orchestral Suite No 1 BWV 1066, all with the outstanding Melbourne Baroque Orchestra on period instruments.
Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir and Melbourne Baroque Orchestra conducted by Rick Prakhoff
Soloists: Jacqueline Porter, Timothy Reynolds, Simon Meadows, Saskia Mascitti
A Concert For Peace
9 July 2022
Ballarat
Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir & Orchestra, organ and soloists, conducted by Rick Prakhoff
A programme of works on the theme of peace, and a small gesture of support to the people of Ukraine.
Location:
Ballarat Central Uniting Church
103 Lydiard St South, Ballarat Central Vic 3350
2 July 2022
Melbourne
Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir & Orchestra, organ and soloists, conducted by Rick Prakhoff
A programme of works on the theme of peace, and a small gesture of support to the people of Ukraine.
Location: St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne
15- 16 April 2022
Easter At Melbourne Recital Centre
A feast of music by Bach and Mozart on Good Friday and Easter Saturday
15 April 2022, Good Friday 8 pm
Good Friday Concert
J S BACH ST MATTHEW PASSION
Melbourne Bach Choir & Orchestra conducted by Rick Prakhoff
With Robert Macfarlane, Adrian Tamburini, Jacqueline Porter, Sally-Anne Russell, Henry Choo, Jeremy Kleeman and James Emerson.
Location: Melbourne Recital Centre
16 April 2022 Easter Saturday 5:30 pm
MOZART VESPERS, BACH TREASURES
J S Bach Suite no. 3 in D
J S Bach Cantata Erfreut euch, Ihr Herzen BWV 66
Mozart Vesperae solennes de confessore K. 339
Melbourne Bach Choir & Orchestra conducted by Rick Prakhoff
Location: Melbourne Recital Centre
16th April Easter Saturday 8pm
Loss and Renewal
J S BACH Chamber Music
Madeleine Easton Violin
•Rosanne Hunt Cello
•Donald Nicolson
Location: Melbourne Recital Centre
2021 Concerts
22 May 2021, 8 pm
Bach to Bowman
Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir conducted by Rick Prakhoff
Calvin Bowman, organ; Don Immel, Joshua Dulfer, Jessica Gilham & James Farrough, trombones
Bruckner: Locus iste, Christe factus es, Ave Maria; J S Bach: Christ ist erstanden BWV276 and BWV 627; Beethoven 3 Aequale; Bruckner Aequale no.1; Brahms: Geistliches Lied; Bowman: Ave Maria, Regina caeli, Pater noster, JS Bach: Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ BWV 639
Location: Andrew’s Anglican Church, Brighton and live-streamed on Melbourne Digital Concert Hall
21 March 2021, 5 pm
Julian Styles: No Friend but the Mountains: A Symphonic Song Cycle (World premiere)
Composer: Luke Styles; Librettist: Behrouz Boochani
Zelman Symphony Orchestra and Melbourne Bach Choir conducted by Rick Prakhoff
Soloist: Adrian Tamburini, bass-baritone
Location: Sidney Myer Music Bowl
2019 Concerts
23 November 2019, All Saints’ Anglican Church, St Kilda East
Immortal Fire
Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir conducted by Rick Prakhoff and Rachel Amos
Calvin Bowman, organ, and vocal soloists Emilia Bertolini, Emma-Mae Schmidt, Rachel Amos, Stephen Carpenter, Jeff McCracken-Hewson, Tiffany St Mart, Nelson Ruffat.
J S Bach: Meine Seele erhebt den Herren BWV 733; Bridge: Music when soft voices die; Britten: Hymn to St Cecilia; Britten: Prelude & Fugue on a theme of Vittoria; Britten: Rejoice in the Lamb; Schubert: An die Musik; Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music, Prelude on ‘Rhosymedre’; Kodály: Laudes organi.
8 September 2019, Melbourne Town Hall
Verdi Requiem (Joint presentation with Zelman Symphony)
Melbourne Bach Choir and Zelman Symphony conducted by Rick Prakhoff
Soloists: Helena Dix, Jacqueline Dark, Paul O’Neill, Adrian Tamburini
6 July 2019, All Saints’ Anglican Church, St Kilda East
Fauré Requiem & other masterpieces of French choral music.
Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir conducted by Rick Prakhoff and Rachel Amos
Yuko Tomonaga, harp, and vocal soloists Emilia Bertolini, and Jeremy Kleeman,
Debussy: Trois chansons de Charles d’Orléans; Fauré: Madrigal Op 35; Saint-Saëns, Deux Choers Op 68; Debussy: Beau soir; Fauré: Automne; Messaien: O Sacrum Convivium;:Ravel, Nicolette, Trois beaux oiseaux du paradi; Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine; Debussy: Danses sacrée et profane; Fauré: Requiem.
30 June 2019, Ballarat Central Uniting Church
Fauré Requiem and other masterpieces of French choral music
Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir conducted by Rick Prakhoff and Rachel Amos
Calvin Bowman, organ, and vocal soloists Emilia Bertolini and James Emerson
Debussy: Trois chansons de Charles d’Orléans; Fauré: Madrigal; Saint-Saëns: Deux choeurs, op. 68; Messiaen O sacrum convivium; Ravel: Nicolette, Trois beaux oiseaux du paradis; J. Alain: Aria, Litanies; Franck: Panis Angelicus; Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine; Fauré: Requiem.
19 April 2019, Melbourne Recital Centre
J S Bach: St Matthew Passion
Melbourne Bach Choir, VOYCE, Melbourne Bach Orchestra conducted by Rick Prakhoff
Soloists: Andrew Goodwin, Jud Arthur, Jacqueline Porter, Jacqueline Dark, Michael Smallwood, Jeremy Kleeman, James Emerson.
2018 Concerts
8 September 2018, Melbourne Recital Centre
“In Memoriam”
Melbourne Bach Choir & Orchestra conducted by Rick Prakhoff
Soloists: Jacqueline Porter, Sally-Anne Russell, Andrew Goodwin and Andrew Jones
Mozart Requiem; J S Bach Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen BWV 12; Mozart: Kommet her, ihr frechen Sünder, K146; Stravinsky: In memoriam Dylan Thomas; Arvo Pärt: Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten
2 December 2018, Meat Market, North Melbourne
“Breath”
Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir & wind and brass ensemble, conducted by Rick Prakhoff and Joseph Hie
Stravinsky: Mass
Bruckner: Mass in e minor
J S Bach: O Jesu Christ meins Lebens Licht BWV 118
30 June 2018, St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne
“Now touch the air softly”
Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir conducted by Rick Prakhoff and Joseph Hie
With Calvin Bowman, organ & piano and vocal soloists Frederica Cunningham, Thomas Harvey and James Emerson
J S Bach: Jesu meine Freude BWV 227; Lobet den Herrn BWV 230; Pièce d’orgue BWV 572; Calvin Bowman: Fresh Fields; Words by the water; Now touch the air softly; The last swallow; The home for the appalled; To Daffadills; Crossing the Bar; An Elizabethan Songbook; Brahms: Geistliches Lied; Finzi: Come away Death; Fear no more the heat o’ the sun; Bridge: Autumn; Barber: The Coolin’
23 June, 2018, Ballarat Central Uniting Church
“Now touch the air softly”
Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir conducted by Rick Prakhoff and Joseph Hie
With Calvin Bowman, organ & piano and vocal soloists Frederica Cunningham & Thomas Harvey
J S Bach: Jesu meine Freude BWV 227; Lobet den Herrn BWV 230; Pièce d’orgue BWV 572; Allein Gott in der Höh’ sei Her BWV 663; Wachet auf BWV 645; Calvin Bowman: Fresh Fields; Words by the water; Now touch the air softly; The last swallow; The home for the appalled; To Daffadills; Crossing the Bar; An Elizabethan Songbook; Brahms: Geistliches Lied; Bridge: Autumn; Music when soft voices die; Barber: Reincarnations; Mendelssohn: Richte mich, Gott
30 March 2018, Melbourne Recital Centre
Szymanowski: Stabat Mater; Brahms: German Requiem
Melbourne Bach Choir and Orchestra conducted by Rick Prakhoff
Soloists Lorina Gore, Belinda Paterson & Warwick Fyfe
18 March 2018, Melbourne Recital Centre – in 3MBS Bach Marathon
CPE Bach: St Matthew Passion (1777) – Australian premiere
Melbourne Bach Choir and Orchestra conducted by Rick Prakhoff
Soloists: Andrew Goodwin, Michael Leighton-Jones, Nicholas Dinopoulos, Timothy Reynolds, Jeremy Kleeman, Suzanne Shakespeare, Shakira Tsindos
2017 Concerts
17 December, 2017, St Patrick’s Cathedral, East Melbourne
“Gloria: Festive music for choir, organ and brass”
Melbourne Bach Choir, Calvin Bowman, organ and brass ensemble. Conducted by Rick Prakhoff.
Soloists: Cassandra Ford, Jessica Wynne, Caitlyn Bosch, Christelise de Graaf, Brede Davis, Jordan Janssen, Andre Sasalu.
Ruth Gillespie, arr CalvinBowman: The Bells; Praetorius: Psallite, unigenito Christo; Puer natus in Bethlehem; Anon: Gli angeli nelle campagne; Veni, Emmanuel; J S Bach: Vom Himmel hoch BWV 243a, Quia respexit & Omnes generations BWV 243; Canon per augmentationem BWV 769a; Sweelinck: Hodie Christus natus est; G. Gabrieli: O magnum mysterium; Scheidt: In dulci jubilo: Rheinberger: Advent motets op. 176, nos. 8 & 9; Poulenc: Quatre motets pour le temps de Noēl; J S Bach: In dulci jubilo BWV 729; Rutter: Gloria.
8 September, 2017, St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne
“Requiem” – pre-tour concert.
Melbourne Bach Choir conducted by Rick Prakhoff.
Soloists: Belinda Paterson, Jeremy Kleeman with Calvin Bowman, organ & Molly Kadarauch, cello.
Duruflé: Requiem; Bruckner: Locus iste; Os justi; Christus factus est; Ave Maria; J S Bach: O Jesu Christ meins Lebens Licht; Mendelssohn: Verleih uns Frieden; Rossini: O Salutaris Hostia; Bowman: To Daffadils; Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine.
24th June 2017
Rachmaninov – All Night Vigil (“Vespers”)
June 24th 2017, St Paul’s Cathedral
Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir
Conducted by Rick Parkhoff
Soloists
Emily Bauer-Jones (mezzo-soprano)
Timothy Reynolds (tenor)
Chris Howlet
14 April, 2017, Melbourne Recital Centre
J S Bach: St John Passion
Melbourne Bach Choir and Orchestra conducted by Rick Prakhoff
Soloists: Andrew Goodwin, Warwick Fyfe, Lorina Gore, Dominica Matthews, Henry Choo, Jeremy Kleeman
19 March, 2017, Mica Grange garden, Sutton Grange
Handel: Saul, produced & directed by Michael Smith
Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir and Victorian Chamber Ensemble with soloists Jerzy Kozlowski, Michael Petrucelli, Elisabeth Denk, Brenda McDougall, Christopher Roache, Matt Thomas & Michael Smith. Conducted by Rick Prakhoff.
2016 Concerts
20 November, 2016, Sacred Heart Church, Carlton
American Connections
Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir, Kathryn Pisani, piano, conducted by Rick Prakhoff
Soloists Carolina Biasoli, Brede Davis, Alexandra Matthew, April Foster
Randall Thompson: Choose something like a star; Barber: Sure on this shining night; Menotti:Lullaby; Britten: Corpus Christi; Be kind and courteous; Hymn to St Cecilia; Barber: Incarnations; Sure on this shining night; Agnus Dei; Rachmaninov: Five excerpts from All-night Vigil.
November 2016
American Connections Repertoire including Benjamin Britten’s Hymn to St Cecilia
Location: Dunolly
18 September, 2016, Melbourne Town Hall
Melbourne Bach Choir and Orchestra with soloists Miriam Gordon-Stewart, Deborah Humble, Andrew Goodwin & James Clayton, conducted by Rick Prakhoff
Elgar: The Kingdom
4 June, 2016, St Mary’s Anglican Church, North Melbourne
“Choral Masterpieces”
Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir, Calvin Bowman , organ and trombone ensemble conducted by Rick Prakhoff
Bruckner: Locus iste; Os justi; Christus factus est; J S Bach 2 chorales; Orlando di Lasso, Trio; Brahms: Ach, arme Welt; Ich aber bin elend; Bruckner: Prelude & Fugue in D minor; Elgar: As torrents in summer; Love’s tempest; Serenade; The shower; Bruckner: Aequale No. 1 in C; Afferentur Regi; Brahms: 2 chorale preludes Op 122; Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele; O Welt, ich muss dich lassen; Rachmaninov: Priiditye poklonimsa; Blazhen muzh; Bogoroditse Dyevo, raduisya; Bruckner: Auequale No 2 in C; Ecce sacerdos
25 March 2016, Melbourne Recital Centre
J S Bach: St Matthew Passion
Melbourne Bach Choir & Orchestra, St Michael’s Grammar School Choir.
Soloists: Andrew Goodwin, Warwick Fyfe, Lorina Gore, Sally-Anne Russell, Henry Choo, Andrew Collis, Jacqueline Porter, Belinda Paterson, Michael Petrucelli, Jeremy Kleeman. Conducted by Rick Prakhoff
2015 Concerts
20 September, 2015, All Saints’ Anglican Church, St Kilda East
“Requiem”
Melbourne Bach Choir and Orchestra with soloists Antoinette Halloran, Belinda Prakhoff, James Egglestone, Adrian Tamburini, conducted by Rick Prakhoff
Mozart: Solemn Vespers of the Confessor; Michael Haydn: Requiem in c minor; John Tavener: Song for Athene
9 April 2015, All Saints’ Church, St Kilda East
“Easter Oratorio”
J S Bach: Easter Oratorio BWV 249; Ascension Oratorio BWV 11; Schubert: Mass in G, D 167
Melbourne Bach Choir & Orchestra with Jacqueline Porter, Sarah Court, Henry Choo & Jeremy Kleeman, conducted by Rick Prakhoff
2014 Concerts
13 September, 2014, All Saints’ Church, St Kilda East
“Opera Plus” – pre-tour concert
Melbourne Bach Choir with Pam Christie, piano, and Kerry Gill, Belinda Paterson Prakhoff, conducted by Rick Prakhoff
Popular opera excerpts and choral works by operatic composers
5 & 6 April, 2014, All Saints’ Church, St Kilda East
J S Bach: St Matthew Passion
Melbourne Bach Choir & Orchestra, Choir of the Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School with soloists Andrew Goodwin, Michael Lewis, Jacqueline Porter, Sally-Anne Russell, Henry Choo, Andrew Collis, Nathan Lay & Matthew Tng, conducted by Rick Prakhoff
2013 Concerts
Spring, 2013, All Saints’ Church, St Kilda East
“Fauré, Bach, Britten”
All Saints’ Anglican Church, East St Kilda, Sat.26 Oct.2013, 7.30 pm: Jacqueline Porter, soprano; Henry Choo, tenor; Pelham Andrews, bass; Melbourne Bach Choir & Orchestra, conducted by Rick Prakhoff.
Works performed in order:
Gabriel Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine (1865), arr.for choir and string orchestra by Phillip Legge
Te Deum Benjamin Britten in C (1934), for soprano, choir & organ
JS Bach: Cantata BWV 140 Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (1731), for soprano, tenor & bass soli, choir and orchestra
Gabriel Fauré: Requiem for soprano and bass soli, choir and chamber orchestra (1893), ed. John Rutter
4 March, 2013, All Saints’ Church, St Kilda East
“Mozart and Bach”
Melbourne Bach Choir and Orchestra with soloists Suzanne Shakespeare, Danielle Calder, Timothy Reynolds, James Egglestone & Pelham Andrews, conducted by Rick Prakhoff
Mozart: Mass in c minor K 427; J S Bach: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern BWV 1
2012 Concerts
10 November, 2012, Collins St Baptist Church
“Bach, Bruckner, Kodály”
Melbourne Bach Choir with Madeleine Jevons, violin, Laura Moore viola da gamba/ cello, Donald Nicolson, organ, and vocal soloists Michelle McCarthy, Bridget Davies, Tania Ferris, Jason Wasley & Gary Rowley conducted by Rick Prakhoff
J S Bach Fugue in g minor BWV 1026, Jesu meine Freude BWV 227; Bruckner: Locus Iste; Christus factus est; Kodály: Missa Brevis
10 March & 1 April 2012, St Mary Star of the Sea, North Melbourne
J S Bach: St John Passion
Melbourne Bach Choir & Orchestra with Paul McMahon, Shane Lowrencev, Lorina Gore, Belinda Paterson, Henry Choo, Joshua Bloom, conducted by Rick Prakhoff.
2011 Concerts
8 April, 2011, St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne
Mozart: Requiem & J S Bach: Magnificat
Melbourne Bach Choir & Orchestra with Lorina Gore, Melanie Adams, Belinda Paterson, Edmond Choo & Shane Lowrencev, conducted by Rick Prakhoff
2010 Concerts
19 March, 2010, All Saints’ Church, St Kilda East
J S Bach: St Matthew Passion
Melbourne Bach Choir & Orchestra and Choir of St Michael’s Grammar School with Paul McMahon, Joshua Bloom, Jacqueline Porter, Belinda Paterson, Edmond Choo, Christopher Tonkin, Matthew Thomas, Frederica Cunningham, Cecilia Bjorkegren, & Jason Geeves, conducted by Rick Prakhoff
2006 Concerts
7 April, 2006, All Saints’ Church, St Kilda East
J S Bach: St Matthew Passion
Melbourne Bach Choir & Orchestra and Australian Children’s Choir with David Hamilton, Warwick Fyfe, Rosamund Illing, Belinda Paterson, Stephen Smith, Derek Walton, Nicholas Dinopoulos, Lauren Oldham, Jason Geeves, Lynda Watkins & David Lawson-Smith, conducted by Rick Prakhoff