On Saturday, April 19, a group of Bay Area musicians will revisit the life and sacrifice of Christ with a free performance to celebrate Easter featuring the works of Bach, Mendelsson, Handel, and Gounod as well as hymns, folk songs and spirituals.

The event, entitled “There is a Balm in Gilead: An Easter Celebration of Christ” will be held at 3:30 p.m. in Memorial Church and will be open to the general public. The program will consist of solo, choral and instrumental performances and will be accompanied by some brief remarks from Professor of Law Robert Daines.

Featured artists will include Ariel Bybee, a mezzo-soprano with a distinguished opera career including over 460 performances with the Metropolitan Opera, operatic soprano Jennie Litster, renowned organist James Welch ’73 M.A. ’75, and Mark Oshida, accomplished violinist and former concertmaster at Carnegie Hall.

With inspiring music ranging from the resplendent tones of Handel’s “Messiah” to Gounod’s imploringly penitent “O Divine Redeemer,” “There is a Balm In Gilead” promises to restore and strengthen spiritual connections this Easter season, and offers everyone the opportunity to step back from the frenetic pace of campus life and reflect on a message of hope and redemption.

Contact Kent Blake at kmblake “at” stanford.edu.