Considered one of the world’s leading specialists of Baroque music, Nikolaus Harnoncourt founded the “Concentus Musicus Wien” in 1953. It has since become one of the world’s most respected ensembles specializing in the performance of early music on original instruments or faithful reproductions. With its opulent decor and gilt ornamentation, the Austrian Baroque church of Waldhausen provides a setting evocative of Bach’s times. An added highlight of the program is the retelling of the Nativity story with the magnificent carved figures of two master wood-carvers of the Baroque period from Upper Austria. Also heard on the recording are the distinguished tenor Peter Schreier, bass Robert Holl and the Tölzer Boys’ Choir.
Bach, Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio) BWV 248
This production of Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio” was recorded at two highly exceptional places: Palestine and Israel, the authentic, historical locations of the Christmas story. The recording of the work’s first three cantatas took place in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, and the second set of cantatas at the Evangelical Church in Jerusalem on Christmas Day. Conductor Riccardo Chailly leads the Zurich Opera’s acclaimed early-music ensemble along with a roster of top soloists. The program is interspersed with shots of various historical sites of Israel and Palestine.
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat major, BWV 1051
For Johann Sebastian Bach, February 15, 1981 was no doubt one of the darkest days of his afterlife: on this day he lost one of his greatest champions in the 20th century, Karl Richter. Over the course of his long career as conductor, organist and harpsichordist, Richter had become synonymous with Bach. He founded the Munich Bach Choir and the Munich Bach Orchestra. He helped trigger the Bach revival in the 1950s. He was the spirit behind the Ansbach Bach Festival. He turned his adopted city of Munich into a Bach center. And he recorded all the major choral and orchestral works of Bach, including more than 100 cantatas.
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048
Though dedicated to the Margrave of Brandenburg in 1721, the six Brandenburg Concertos were most likely neither conceived as a group nor originally intended for the music-loving prince. The works are scored for an ensemble like the one Bach had at his disposal in Köthen, and represent different stylistic and structural principles. The concertos Nos. 1, 3 and 6 call for the interplay of instrumental choruses of equal importance, with specific instruments providing only sporadic moments of solo playing. The concertos Nos. 2, 4 and 5, in turn, present a string foundation above which a variety of solo instruments take their turn in the spotlight, though never overshadowing the lead soloist, a trumpet in No. 2, a violin in No. 4, the harpsichord in No. 5. Recorded in the late 1960s, this interpretation of the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 impressively confirms Herbert von Karajan’s affinity to Bach, a composer one does not immediately identify with the legendary maestro.
Bach, Matthäuspassion (St. Matthew’s Passion) BWV 244
Johann Sebastian Bach’s monumental St. Matthew Passion in a recording from Leipzig’s historic St. Thomas church, where it was first performed in 1729. Georg Christoph Biller, who was appointed the 18th “Thomaskantor” since J.S. Bach in 1992, leads Leipzig’s internationally acclaimed Gewandhaus Orchestra, the St. Thomas Choir and other distinguished artists such as Andreas Schmidt (Jesus), Olaf Bär (Pontius Pilate), Monika Frimmer, Bogna Bartosz and Martin Petzold
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047
For Johann Sebastian Bach, February 15, 1981 was no doubt one of the darkest days of his afterlife: on this day he lost one of his greatest champions in the 20th century, Karl Richter. Over the course of his long career as conductor, organist and harpsichordist, Richter had become synonymous with Bach. He founded the Munich Bach Choir and the Munich Bach Orchestra. He helped trigger the Bach revival in the 1950s. He was the spirit behind the Ansbach Bach Festival. He turned his adopted city of Munich into a Bach center. And he recorded all the major choral and orchestral works of Bach, including more than 100 cantatas.
Bach, Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio) BWV 248
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048
For Johann Sebastian Bach, February 15, 1981 was no doubt one of the darkest days of his afterlife: on this day he lost one of his greatest champions in the 20th century, Karl Richter. Over the course of his long career as conductor, organist and harpsichordist, Richter had become synonymous with Bach. He founded the Munich Bach Choir and the Munich Bach Orchestra. He helped trigger the Bach revival in the 1950s. He was the spirit behind the Ansbach Bach Festival. He turned his adopted city of Munich into a Bach center. And he recorded all the major choral and orchestral works of Bach, including more than 100 cantatas.
BACH 300 – 300 Years J.S. Bach in Leipzig
An array of musical stars converges in Leipzig to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach taking up his appointment as Kantor at the city’s iconic Thomaskirche – a post that he occupied for more than a quarter of a century, covering a period in which he created many of his greatest works. On a special open-air stage in the market square of Leipzig the Thomaner Choir and the Gewandhaus Orchestra under their current Thomaskantor Andreas Reize were joined by Lang Lang, Daniel Hope, Albrecht Mayer, Sophie Kauer, Francesca Aspromonte and Cameron Shahbazi. Music includes highlights of Goldberg Variations, Mass in B Minor, Cello Suite No. 1, Double Concerto for Violin, Oboe, Strings, Orchestral Suites, various Arias…
Dona Nobis Pacem – A ballet by John Neumeier
“Dona Nobis Pacem” – give us peace. This title is of great importance to me – even at the risk of seeming naïve, sentimental or even pretentious. In light of the constant and growing tensions in our world, this thought remains an important aspiration and inspires me to approach Johann Sebastian Bach’s multifaceted composition (Mass in B minor) with conviction. In my 50th season as artistic director, I consider this creation a great opportunity.” John Neumeier A Historic Document The film version of “Dona Nobis Pacem” takes us close to the creative evolution of this ballet. Even though there were very high expectations, John Neumeier agreed for the first time in his career to have one of his ballets filmed during the week of the world premiere. Thus, the film became an impressive document of the outstanding quality of the Hamburg Ballet ensemble. It excels not only in terms of technical brilliance, but also expressive intensity and wholehearted dedication.