In an exciting collaboration with Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) 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.

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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 OLLU’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 OLLU, 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 OLLU 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."

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