Bach Collegium Japan

Bach Collegium Japan (BCJ) is composed of an orchestra and a chorus specialising in Baroque music, playing with period instruments. It was founded in 1990 by Masaaki Suzuki with the purpose of introducing Japanese audiences to European Baroque music. Suzuki still remains its music director. The ensemble holds an annual series of concerts of Johann Sebastian Bach's cantatas and instrumental programs. Since 1995 they have produced a series recordings of J. S. Bach's sacred cantatas on the BIS label, now issuing the forty-fourth recording. The first 27 volumes were issued in CD format and the following in SACD. Their other notable recordings include H├ñndel's Messiah and J. S. Bach's vocal works, such as St Matthew Passion and Mass in B minor. They have also recorded a DVD with J. S. Bach's St John Passion. BCJ has recently extended its activities to the international music scene with appearances at major festivals in cities such as Santiago de Compostela, Tel Aviv, Leipzig and Melbourne in 2000, the 250th anniversary year of BachÔ[][]s death. In recent years BCJ had given concerts in the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, the United States, South Korea and Germany, including Bach's cantatas.