Written for the Thomanerchor Leipzig and premiered under the direction of the Thomaskantor himself, the six cantatas of the Christmas Oratorio have been an integral part of the choir’s calendar ever since. In 2018, under the direction of Bach‘s 17th successor Gotthold Schwarz, the Thomanerchor and the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig continued this tradition with an outstanding ensemble of soloists.
Midori plays Bach in Köthen: The Partitas and Sonatas for Solo Violin
Midori’s recent interpretation of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for violin solo has earned her many accolades by audiences and the media worldwide. In August 2016, Midori performed these pieces, known as one of the most challenging for any violinist, for an audio-visual recording at the Castle of Köthen (Schloss Köthen), where Bach served as Court Chapel Master between 1717 an 1723. There, the precise, light but nevertheless emphatic playing by Midori unfurled a unique world of sound that maybe Bach himself had imagined while composing these polyphonic masterpieces. PROGRAM: J.S. Bach: Partitas and Sonatas for Solo Violin BWV 1001 – 1006
800 Years St. Thomas Boys Choir: The Saint Matthew Passion
In 2012, one of the finest boys’ choirs in the world, the St. Thomas Boys Choir Leipzig, celebrated its 800th anniversary. An almost unbelievable period of time, if one considers that the choir outlasted all ups and downs of European history, maintaining its unbroken traditions over the centuries and holding onto established principles such as the inclusion of the elder boys in the education of the younger ones. A musical event of very particular significance during the anniversary celebration, is the traditional performance of one of Bach’s Passions in St. Thomas Church in the run-up to Easter.
Murray Perahia – Live in Warsaw
The Warsaw recital of legendary pianist Murray Perahia, recorded on February 24th 2010. Available in three versions: Version 1: Johann Sebastian Bach: Partita No. 6 in E minor, BWV 830; Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109; Frédéric Chopin: Étude Op. 10, No. 4 (Length: 56 min) // Version 2: Johann Sebastian Bach: Partita No. 6 in E minor, BWV 830; Frédéric Chopin: Ballade No. 3 in A-flat major, Op. 47 / Étude Op. 25, No. 5 / Étude Op. 25, No. 1 / Étude Op. 10, No. 4 / Mazurka Op. 50, No. 3 / Mazurka Op. 59, No. 3 (Length: 56’) // Version 3: Bach, Beethoven, Chopin (Length: 76’)
Khatia Buniatishvili – Mind in the Wilderness
Khatia Buniatishvili’s playing has been described as having ‘an aura of elegant solitude and even melancholy. It’s a perfect characterization of the pianist with such a wide palette of expression. Khatia Buniatishvili commands a natural musicality. ‘Force of nature’, ‘Spiritedness’, or ‘Infinite freedom’ are frequently mentioned attributes on her interpretation. Buniatishvili’s artistic approach to making music is undoubtedly associated with the Romantic tradition, always maintaining a fine balance between unhinged wildness and lyrical introspection. The repertoire comprises cheerful moments, melancholic passages and nocturne-like episodes: virtuously brought to life throughout a concert experience with a great quality of intimacy and generous ardour. —- Works by Bach, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Kancheli, Brahms, Ravel, Grieg, Händel, Liszt, Dvorák, Buniatishvili, Pärt, Ligeti.
The Return is the Movement of Tao: Zhu Xiao-Mei and the Goldberg Variations
“The Return is the Movement of Tao” pays tribute to one of the most renowned interpreters of J.S. Bach’s music: the outstanding Chinese pianist Zhu Xiao-Mei. Shot in places that are dear to her, such as Paris, Buenos Aires and the winter beauty of the Alps, Michel Mollard’s documentary centers on music and its mystery, on the links between Bach and Lao-Tze and on the dialogue between the cultures, especially between the West and China. It offers profound insight into the mind of a fascinating artist, her vision of the Goldberg Variations and on what makes this great masterpiece so powerful.
Yo-Yo Ma: Inspired by Bach – Suite 6: Six Gestures
Inspired by Bach presents cellist Yo-Yo Ma performing the six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello by J.S. Bach in collaboration with artists from different disciplines, in a set of six films. When Yo-Yo Ma decided to re-record J.S. Bach’s Suites for Unaccompanied Cello, he approached world champion skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean to join him in interpreting the Sixth Suite. Combining beautiful images of Yo-Yo Ma’s performance with magnificent sequences of Torvill and Dean and J.S. Bach’s first person narrative, SIX GESTURES investigates J.S. Bach’s personal and professional history while linking his life and music to our modern world
Yo-Yo Ma: Inspired by Bach – Suite 5: Struggle For Hope
Inspired by Bach presents cellist Yo-Yo Ma performing the six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello by J.S. Bach in collaboration with artists from different disciplines, in a set of six films. Two celebrated artists – cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Kabuki actor Tamasaburo Bando – combine talents to create an emotionally charged dance performance to J.S. Bach’s Fifth Suite for Unaccompanied Cello that draws its very inspiration from two very distinct worlds. Struggle For Hope follows Yo-Yo and Tamasaburo on this seemingly impossible collaboration. As Eastern mysticism meets Western rigour, the two rehearse and discuss the ultimate goal: a performance that enhances both traditions and transcends the cultural boundaries that naturally exist between them.
Yo-Yo Ma: Inspired by Bach – Suite 4: Sarabande
Inspired by Bach presents cellist Yo-Yo Ma performing the six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello by J.S. Bach in collaboration with artists from different disciplines, in a set of six films. A missed limousine; a masterclass; a doctor’s office; a recital. Inspired by the moods and emotions of the Fourth Suite, SARABANDE is a dramatic film directed by feature film director Atom Egoyan and starring Yo-Yo Ma, Lori Singer, Arsinée Khanjian and Don McKellar. The film weaves together numerous stories in a series of coincidences intimating themes of generosity and exchange. Beginning with Ma’s confused and humorous arrival at Toronto International Airport, his taxi ride downtown and the goings-on at a doctor’s office, this enigmatic drama culminates in a masterclass conducted by Yo-Yo Ma and attended by the doctor (played by Lori Singer). Ultimately, the film examines the effect of music on the everyday lives of the characters and specifically the value of music to healing, especially in relation to the Bach Cello Suites.
Yo-Yo Ma: Inspired by Bach – Suite 3: Falling Down Stairs
Inspired by Bach presents cellist Yo-Yo Ma performing the six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello by J.S. Bach in collaboration with artists from different disciplines, in a set of six films. Follows an intense year-long collaboration between Yo-Yo Ma and choreographer Mark Morris, which culminates in a spectacular performance, conceived especially for film, of J. S. Bach’s Suite No. 3 for Unaccompanied Cello as interpreted by Yo-Yo Ma and the 14-member Mark Morris Dance Group. The film shows the intimacy, soul-searching and humor involved in the creative process, as Yo-Yo and Mark struggle to create a completely new work that can live up to the title “Inspired by Bach.”