A Special Kind of Cantata Cycle

To die for – Cantatas for Quinquagesima Sunday and the 16th Sunday after Trinity

The themes of mortality, dying, death and eternal life are recurrent in Bach’s cantatas. This applies in particular to a series of cantatas which Bach composed for Sundays the Bible readings for which tell of spectacular healings and raisings from the dead by Jesus. In accordance with Luther’s exegesis, here death is not seen as the sad conclusion of a human life; instead, dying is portrayed as a rewarding process of transformation at the end of which Jesus will awaken the faithful soul in paradise: »Christ is my life, dying is my reward«, »Welcome! shall I say when Death steps to my bed«, »Oh, strike soon, thou blessed hour«, »...Oh, call me soon, thou knell of death, I do not fear to die, since my Jesus shall wake me again.« – Thomaskantor Bach set these words to music in unequalled fashion. With every note and with poignant musical sensitivity, in these masterpieces Bach never fails to make the existence of the kingdom of heaven plausible to his listeners. We are certain that, interpreted by the great Bach authorities Sir John Eliot Gardiner and Diego Fasolis, the incredible beauty of this group of works will make itself felt at the Bachfest too. This music is simply to die for!

Transforming grief into joy – cantatas for Jubilate Sunday

The comfort emanating from Bach’s music finds special expression in the cantatas for Jubilate Sunday, the third Sunday after Easter. These pieces are musical reflections of the unsettling words with which Jesus hints at his impending departure to his disciples: »You shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy!« Precisely this is the subject of Bach’s three Jubilate cantatas: during the course of the cantatas, Bach transforms seemingly insurmountable grief, depicted in breathtaking opening choruses, into contagious joy – at the same time offering his most beautiful examples of truly »edifying church music«! Could there be any more suitable theme for John Eliot Gardiner’s long-awaited Bachfest comeback?

Cantatas for the 10th Sunday after Trinity and the Feast of St. Michael

The Biblical accounts of Jesus’ vision of the destruction of Jerusalem and the depiction of the archangel Michael’s victory over the devil also inspired Bach to write a series of cantata gems. What unites them is the incredible virtuosity Bach demanded of his singers to transform divine punishment and the struggle with the fiendish dragon into music. What sets the Michaelmas cantatas apart, however, is that the celebration of the heavenly hosts is always combined with a song of thanksgiving to the guardian angel – not least, because it is he who faithfully accompanies us on our final voyage: »Abide, you angels, abide with me« (from BWV 19) – in Bach’s treatment, this becomes perhaps the most moving of all his arias. In this cycle, we have the opportunity of hearing these treasures in their unique, visceral interpretation by the British ensemble, Solomon’s Knot. And it can also be seen as a stroke of luck that the performance of Bach’s most elaborate musical depictions of the judgement of God coincides with the Bachfest debut of the celebrated Cappella Mediterranea, under the direction of Leonardo García Alarcón!

Kantaten zum Sonntag Jubilate
Fr, 13. Juni / 20.00 h / Nikolaikirche / No 20
J. S. Bach: Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, BWV 12 · Ihr werdet weinen und heulen, BWV 103 · Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal, BWV 146
Solisten, The Constellation Choir & Orchestra, Leitung: Sir John Eliot Gardiner
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Kantaten zum 16. Sonntag nach Trinitatis
Sa, 14. Juni / 20.00 h / Thomaskirche / No 43
J. S. Bach: Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben, BWV 8.1 · Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende, BWV 27 · Christus, der ist mein Leben, BWV 95 · Komm, du süße Todesstunde, BWV 161
Solisten, The Constellation Choir & Orchestra, Leitung: Sir John Eliot Gardiner
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Kantaten zum 10. Sonntag nach Trinitatis
So, 15. Juni / 17.00 h / Thomaskirche / No 64
J. S. Bach: Schauet doch und sehet, ob irgendein Schmerz sei, BWV 46 · Herr, deine Augen sehen nach dem Glauben, BWV 102 · Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott, BWV 101
Sophie Junker (Sopran), Christopher Lowrey (Altus), Valerio Contaldo (Tenor), Andreas Wolf (Bass), Chœur de Chambre de Namur, Cappella Mediterranea, Leitung: Leonardo García Alarcón
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Kantaten zum Sonntag Estomihi
Fr, 20. Juni / 20.00 h / Nikolaikirche / No 158
J. S. Bach: Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe, BWV 22 · Du wahrer Gott und Davids Sohn, BWV 23 · Herr Jesu Christ, wahr’ Mensch und Gott, BWV 127 · Sehet, wir gehn hinauf gen Jerusalem, BWV 159
Lydia Teuscher (Sopran), Margot Oitzinger (Alt), Bernhard Berchtold (Tenor), Henryk Böhm (Bass), Coro della Radiotelevisione svizzera, I Barocchisti, Leitung: Diego Fasolis
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Kantaten zum Michaelisfest
So, 22. Juni / 15.00 h / Nikolaikirche / No 200
J. S. Bach: Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft, BWV 50 · J. C. Bach: Es erhub sich ein Streit · J. S. Bach: Es erhub sich ein Streit, BWV 19 · Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir, BWV 130.1 · Man singet mit Freuden vom Sieg, BWV 149
Solomon’s Knot
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