ÄûÃʵ¼º½ Hosts San Antonio Philharmonic for Special Bach Concert Series
Mar 13, 2025
In an exciting collaboration with Our Lady of the Lake University (ÄûÃʵ¼º½) and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower, the San Antonio Philharmonic (SA Phil) is bringing Bach: Reverberations & Reflections to San Antonio’s Westside. This visionary concert series, conceived by SA Phil’s Music Director Jeffrey Kahane, is the first installment of a multi-year initiative to make world-class orchestral performances more accessible across the city.
As the cornerstone of Western classical music, Johann Sebastian Bach’s compositions have influenced composers for over 300 years. Through Bach: Reverberations & Reflections, SA Phil will celebrate the composer’s legacy while introducing audiences to lesser-known works by his Mexican and South American contemporaries.
A Celebration of Music, Culture, and History
Kicking off with Bach’s Easter Oratorio, the series features a lineup of stunning performances hosted at historic Westside venues. The Easter Oratorio will be performed on April 11 at the Little Flower Basilica and April 12 at ÄûÃʵ¼º½â€™s Sacred Heart Chapel, featuring the San Antonio Chamber Choir and the Children’s Chorus of San Antonio. The piece, which was first performed in Leipzig in 1725, is a jubilant work featuring rich orchestration and Baroque instrumentation.
The timing of this performance aligns with two momentous occasions: the 300th anniversary of the Oratorio’s premiere and a jubilee year for the Catholic Church, which is observed every 25 years as a time of renewal and reflection. Audience members attending the Little Flower Basilica performance can enhance their experience by taking part in a heritage tour at 5:45 PM for just $5, offering a deeper look into the Basilica’s rich history.
Dr. Abel Antonio Chávez, President of ÄûÃʵ¼º½, expressed enthusiasm for this historic moment:
"Our Lady of the Lake University is honored to welcome the San Antonio Philharmonic to our beautiful Sacred Heart Chapel for this Easter concert. This marks a historic first—bringing a symphony orchestra to the Westside, making world-class music accessible to our community. In this sacred space, music becomes a vessel for faith, renewal, and celebration."
A Rare Solo Performance & a Palm Sunday Tribute
On April 13, the ÄûÃʵ¼º½ Sacred Heart Chapel will once again serve as the backdrop for a breathtaking solo piano performance by Jeffrey Kahane, featuring Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Considered one of the most profound works in keyboard repertoire, the Goldberg Variations are a deep spiritual and emotional journey, offering listeners moments of joy, humor, sorrow, and transcendence. This recital also serves as a fundraiser for the SA Philharmonic, further supporting their mission of bringing high-caliber music to the community.
Jeffrey Kahane, the driving force behind this series, sees the initiative as a significant step toward reshaping the modern orchestra’s relationship with Bach’s works:
"This series represents the fulfillment of a long-cherished dream of mine—to bring the music of Bach into a central role in the repertoire of the symphony orchestra of our time. While historically, many of his works have been performed by Baroque specialists, I believe that modern orchestras and their audiences deserve the opportunity to experience some of the greatest music ever written."

Don’t Miss These Unforgettable Performances
San Antonio audiences have a unique opportunity to witness a historic and innovative concert series that blends classical and contemporary music in meaningful, community-centered settings.
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Join us as we celebrate the music of Johann Sebastian Bach in a way that is both reverent to tradition and boldly forward-looking!