O Most-Anticipated Celebration! In 1726, the 41-year-old Johann Sebastian Bach was enjoying the most favourable conditions for the composition and performance of first-class vocal works. He was in the midst of his 3rd cycle of church cantatas in Leipzig, the final complete cycle that survives, described by the Bach scholar Michael Maul as ‘extremely diverse and occasionally experimental’. Bach could call on some of the world’s best virtuoso instrumentalists: violinists, oboists, and especially trumpeters. This exhilarating programme features arias with solo trumpet, in cantatas BWV 43 and 19, that in their very different ways must have pushed the boundaries of what was physically possible at the time. The Thomanerchor was also at the height of its powers, as the blistering opening of ‘Es erhub sich ein Streit’ BWV 19 demonstrates. Join Solomon’s Knot as they continue to follow the vocal works of JS Bach and his contemporaries at 300 years’ distance.
JS Bach
Höchsterwünschtes Freudenfest BWV 194
Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen BWV 43
Es erhub sich ein Streit BWV 19
