“Portland Bach Experience and the Pandora Consort’s 'Hildegard Reanimated' Comes to the Chocolate Church

Early classical music lovers will enjoy the sounds of Boston’s Pandora Consort not only on the evening of Saturday, June 7th at the Chocolate Church Arts Center, but also in a 15-minute “pop-up” concert following afternoon yoga at Library Park, just a few blocks away.

The hour-long BachBends Yoga session will be accompanied by Bach’s cello suites that afternoon at 4:00 pm. and yogis and music lovers will want to stay for a taste of the Pandora Consort’s “Hildegard Reanimated” at 5:00 pm. The concert at the Arts Center will begin at 7:00 pm.

As part of this year’s Portland Bach Experience – a standout event in the Northeast classical scene with immersive and inventive performances – this afternoon and evening experience speaks to the festival’s focus on engaging and inspiring listeners.

“I designed the Portland Bach Experience because I wanted everyone in our community to be able to have their own interaction with classical music: as pairings with local beers, alongside a yoga class, as the soundtrack for a dance party,” says Artistic Director Emily Isaacson. “Classical music was intended to be in the social fabric of everyday life, and my goal is to return this awesome art to its natural habitat.”

This year’s festival also brings Bach’s Brandenburg No. 4, his heartwarming Wedding Cantata, and other favorites to venues in Portland, Brunswick, and beyond.

The Pandora Consort is an early music ensemble that uses multimedia and cross-disciplinary programming to celebrate and elevate early music. Their “Hildegard Reanimated” explores the mystical sounds and images of Hildegard von Bingen, a 12th-century musician, theologian, philosopher, botanist, doctor, former magistra (mother superior), current-saint, and one of the first-named music composers, through a multimedia concert with projected images of medieval artwork animated by Cate Duckwall.

The Portland Bach Experience runs from June 5 to June 15, 2025 with more than 10 events between Portland and Bath.

About the Pandora Consort: https://www.thepandoraconsort.com/

More info on Portland Bach Experience: www.portlandbachexperience.com