TEF gives music lovers a rare opportunity: Bach's Complete Brandenburg Concertos

Nov. 27—THOMASVILLE- Thomasville Entertainment Foundation is giving its patrons an opportunity rarely afforded to lovers of classical music — the chance to hear all six of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos performed together, and by one of the world's great chamber music ensembles.

On Tuesday, December 5, at 7:30 p.m., the internationally renowned Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMSLC) will perform the complete set of the Brandenburg Concertos, arguably among the best orchestral works of the Baroque era, in the intimate and acoustically excellent auditorium of the Thomasville Center for the Arts. Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach around 1720 for the Margrave of Brandenburg, the works are considered the pinnacle of Baroque musical art and were all but lost for 130 years until they were rediscovered and published in 1850.

Additionally, all ticket holders are invited to attend a special pre-concert discussion of the Brandenburg Concertos and their importance in musical history with several CMSLC musicians, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Center's auditorium, as well as a free holiday reception honoring the musicians immediately following the performance.

Because of the limited seating remaining, TEF is only taking ticket orders by phone at 229-226-7404, so interested concertgoers are encouraged to contact the office quickly to secure seating. Tickets are $40 for adults, $15 for students, and all seats are reserved.

"We are so fortunate to be able to bring this amazing concert to Thomasville, as a rare holiday gift to our subscribers and patrons," explained TEF Executive & Artistic Director Rick Ivey. "We've enjoyed a long, mutually beneficial relationship with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center over many seasons, so when their representatives brought this opportunity to us, our Program Committee enthusiastically accepted!"

Because of their complexity and the diversity of instruments required, a proper presentation of the full set demands a 21-member ensemble of musicians from the highest echelons of classical music. While the Chamber Music Society presents the complete Brandenburg Concertos each December in their New York home venue, they only tour the program every other year and usually only to a handful of major cities and venues, Ivey noted.

"Bringing a concert of this importance and this magnitude is a real stretch for a small nonprofit organization like TEF, and it's only possible thanks to the strong level of community support that we've enjoyed for the past 86 years," he added. "We are so grateful to the local foundations, individual donors and subscribers and program book advertisers who support our mission year after year, season after season."

Thomasville Entertainment Foundation's 2023-24 performance season is funded in part by major grants of support from the Emily and Bill Searcy Charitable Trust and the Parker Poe Charitable Trust, with additional support from many other generous foundations, donors and friends.

Founded in 1937, Thomasville Entertainment Foundation is a volunteer-powered, nonprofit organization. In addition to its annual performance season by acclaimed artists and ensembles, TEF also provides free Tickets for Teens to its series performances, presents a dedicated free family series, awards scholarships for promising students in the performing arts and offers a slate of educational programs and events at no cost to participating students or schools.