MINNEAPOLIS, MN – April 6, 2022 – Tickets are on sale now for Legends & Lies: The Story of Till Eulenspiegel, a collaboration between acclaimed vocal ensemble Cantus and instrumentalists of the Bach Society of Minnesota. Marking the launch of the first Minnesota Bach Festival, both ensembles perform the program in five venues throughout the Twin Cities: the Ordway Concert Hall in St. Paul (April 29), Westminster Hall in Minneapolis (April 30), Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater (May 1), Unitarian Universalist Church of Minnetonka (May 2), and Colonial Church of Edina (May 3).
 
Inspired by Daniel Kehlmann’s 2017 bestselling novel Tyll about the protagonist of a 16^th century German chapbook, the Legends and Lies program follows the notorious prankster Till Eulenspiegel as he braves a dangerous world, rubbing shoulders with the ragged, regimental, and royal – and reveals surprising parallels between then and now. The two ensembles – vocal and instrumental – perform both separately and together, highlighting the versatility of chamber music through repertoire spanning five centuries, from Monteverdi to contemporary composer Michael McGlynn.?
 
“We’re musical storytellers,” says Cantus tenor Alexander Nishibun, “so one of the things that drew us to Till was the way that author Daniel Kehlmann wrote him, humanizing and bringing new life to Till, making 21st-century audiences care about a 14th-century trickster. The narrative style of the show includes excerpts from Kehlmann's novel peppered into a musical arc that showcases virtuosic playing by the Bach Society of Minnesota and stunning vocal works that run the emotional gamut."
 
“Legends and lies is a particularly memorable program because the music is legendary, and the lies turn out to be truthful!” says Matthias Maute, Artistic Director of the Bach Society of Minnesota. “If music and life are connected, this concert is a case in point."

Upcoming Cantus performances this season include Covers: A Change is Gonna Come (June 3-11), celebrating personal and collective journeys toward freedom with hits from Diana Ross, Sam Cooke, Lady Gaga, and more; and Ramas y Raíces: Songs from Latin America (July 19-22), exploring the vibrant musical cultures that thrive in Latin America. The ensemble will bring together Cantus members past and present for a belated 25^th Anniversary concert and gala on June 26, 2022 at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and RiverCentre.

About Cantus
Now in its 27^th season, the “engaging” (New Yorker) low-voice ensemble Cantus is widely known for its trademark warmth and blend, innovative programming and riveting performances of music ranging from the Renaissance to the 21st century. The Washington Post has hailed the Cantus sound as having both “exalting finesse” and “expressive power” and refers to the “spontaneous grace” of its music making. The Philadelphia Inquirer called the group nothing short of “exquisite.”
 
As one of the nation’s few full-time vocal ensembles, Cantus has come to prominence with its distinctive approach to creating music. Working without a conductor, the members of Cantus rehearse and perform as chamber musicians, each contributing to the entirety of the artistic process.
 
Cantus enjoys a vigorous schedule of national and international touring, in addition to home concerts in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Cantus has performed at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, UCLA, San Francisco Performances, Atlanta’s Spivey Hall and Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival.
 
In the 2020-21 season, Cantus stayed true to its artistic vision and commitment to innovation in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, producing seven all-new online programs that reached audiences spanning 50 states and seven countries, and garnering praise for how "the sheer quality of singing somehow melted the barriers of online communication” (Star Tribune). The ensemble adapted its award-winning education programs to the pandemic, working virtually with high schools and universities both locally and nationally. Cantus also released its popular COVID-19 Sessions on the Signum Classics label, followed by Manifesto, an album of world premiere recordings of works by Ysaÿe Barnwell, David Lang, Sydney Guillaume, Libby Larsen, Sarah Kirkland Snider, and others.
 
Committed to the expansion of the vocal music repertoire, Cantus actively commissions new music and seeks to unearth rarely performed repertoire for low voices. Cantus has received commissioning grants from New Music USA, the National Endowment for the Arts, Chorus America, American Composers Forum and Chamber Music America. In line with Cantus’ ongoing commitment to fostering new works and expanding the repertoire for tenors, baritones, and basses, the ensemble has partnered with composer and former Cantus bass Timothy C. Takach and Graphite Publishing on the Cantus Choral Series, distributing Cantus’ signature arrangements and compositions for ensembles everywhere to perform and enjoy.
 
Cantus has a rich history of collaborations with other performing arts organizations, including the Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Boston Pops, Chanticleer, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Lorelei Ensemble, Theater Latté Da and the James Sewell Ballet. The ensemble is heard frequently on both classical public radio nationwide and on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.  Cantus has released 20 recordings with Signum Classics as well as on the group’s self-titled label.
 
Integral to the Cantus mission is its commitment to preserve and deepen music education in the schools. Cantus works with more than 5,000 students each year in masterclass and workshop settings across the country, and has visited 31 Minnesota high schools throughout the 13-year history of its award-winning High School Residency program. Cantus also presents a Young and Emerging Composers’ Competition, to encourage the creation of new repertoire through cash prizes, a performance, recording and publication of winning compositions.
 
About Bach Society of Minnesota:
Founded in 1932, Bach Society of Minnesota was one of the first organizations on this continent to take the legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach as a starting point for world-class performance, and we continue in that spirit today. Under the artistic direction of Matthias Maute, BSM brings fresh perspectives and collaborations to build a diverse community of music lovers who perform, promote, and appreciate the music of J.S. Bach and those he inspired. This season, the Bach Society of Minnesota (BSM) celebrates its 90th year with a month-long Minnesota Bach Festival. For more information, visit bachsocietymn.org.   

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