Cantata Collective Releases Album on Centaur Records – J.S. Bach Cantatas, Volume 1 – Featuring BWV 84, 170, 199 with Sherezade Panthaki, Soprano; Reginald Mobley, Countertenor; Nicholas McGegan, Organ

Cantata Collective, San Francisco’s only professional ensemble dedicated solely to performing cantatas of J.S. Bach, releases its first album on Centaur Records (CRC 3930) on February 11, 2022. The album titled J.S. Bach Cantatas, Volume 1 features three of Bach’s beloved cantatas – Ich bin vergnügt mit meinem Glücke, BWV 84; Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust, BWV 170; and Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut, BWV 199 – with outstanding artists including soprano Sherezade Panthaki, countertenor Reginald Mobley, and organist Nicholas McGegan. In addition to the aforementioned cantatas, there is an effervescent encore duet, “Wir eilen mit schwachen” from Jesu, der du meine Seele, BWV 78.

The album was recorded in hi-def surround sound at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Belvedere, CA from September 9-11, 2020, by David v.R. Bowles of Swineshead Productions, recipient of numerous GRAMMY and JUNO nominations. It is the first in an ongoing series of Bach Cantatas for Centaur Records.

Formed by members of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra who share a love for the unique repertoire of the Bach cantatas, Cantata Collective presents its concerts free to the public in an ongoing series featuring soloists who are at the forefront internationally of the early music movement. Since 2017, these concerts are a mainstay in the musical life of the San Francisco Bay Area.

When the pandemic hit and forced concert cancellations the Cantata Collective board supported a recording initiative so that the ensemble could continue its work. The album J.S. Bach Cantatas, Volume 1 is the first album release with many more planned. 

One of these upcoming albums includes a co-production live stream with the San Francisco Early Music Society (SFEMS), featuring Nicholas McGegan – one of the foremost Baroque and Classical experts usually seen conducting major orchestras – playing Bach’s organ sinfonias. Joining him is the leading countertenor Reginald Mobley, singing Cantatas 35, 169, and 54. 

Also on the horizon, Cantata Collective expands its in-person, live concerts and presents the St. John Passion with McGegan conducting on Bach’s birthday, March 21, 2022, in Berkeley, CA. Including a stellar cast of soloists such as tenor Thomas Cooley as the Evangelist, this concert is the culmination of the “Bach Weekend”, which includes a symposium on the St. John Passion, its text and religious implications, featuring acclaimed musicologists Michael Marissen and Richard Taruskin. This is followed by a round table discussion that includes McGegan and members of the Collective ending with an instrumental chamber concert. This event will mark the first installment of an annual performance-weekend of the large-scale Bach sacred works in a recurring collaboration with McGegan. Tickets are available now.

Cantata Collective’s album JS Bach Cantatas, Volume 1 is available on major streaming services. For physical copies, search centaurrecords.com or amazon.com.