“Bach truly is the master of rhetoric and the Bach Akademie Australia the masters of persuasion and joy.” – ClassikON
In just a few years, Sydney’s Bach Akademie Australia has established itself as the leading ensemble dedicated to performing the works of JS Bach. Under violinist and founder Madeleine Easton, the ensemble's focus on mastery, authenticity and originality of interpretation makes it the ideal companion for the journey of Bach’s remarkable life, from beginning to end.
Bach’s earliest cantata (his Actus Tragicus, circa 1708) is a perfect place to start, an introspective and innovative funeral cantata. In his splendid Brandenburg Concerto No.5, written a decade later, we hear what is arguably the first ever keyboard concerto ever written.
From Bach’s later life in Leipzig, comes his motet Lobet den Herrn, one of his most joyful works, and his cantata Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats, a narrative of faith and hope in six captivating movements.
Played in intimate, acoustically excellent surroundings, JS Bach: A Life in Music promises an evening of spiritual depth, instrumental brilliance and choral splendour.
PROGRAM
JS Bach Cantata BWV 106 ‘Actus Tragicus’
1. Sonatina 2a. Chorus: 'Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit’
2b. Arioso: 'Ach, Herr, lehre uns bedenken’
2c. Aria: 'Bestelle dein Haus’
2d. Chorus & Solo: 'Es ist der alte Bund Ja, komm, Herr Jesu, komm!’
3a. Aria: 'In deine Hände befehl ich meinen Geist’
3b. Arioso & Chorale:' Heute wirst du mit mir im Paradies sein’
4. Chorus: 'Glorie, Lob, Ehr und Herrlichkeit’
JS Bach Brandenburg Concerto no.5 in D major BWV 1050
1. Allegro
2. Affettuoso
3. Allegro
JS Bach Motet ‘Lobet den Herrn’ BWV 230
JS Bach 6 part Ricercar from the Musical Offering
JS Bach Cantata BWV 133
1. Chorus: 'Ich freue mich in dir’
2. Aria: 'Getrost! es faßt ein heil'ger Leib’
3. Recitative: 'Ein Adam mag sich voller Schrecken’
4. Aria: 'Wie lieblich klingt es in den Ohren’
5. Recitative: 'Wohlan, des Todes Furcht und Schmerz’
6. Chorale: 'Wohlan, so will ich mich’
TEMPERAMENT
JS Bach is a true avant-gardist. Temperament – a week-long celebration and deconstruction of Bach – pays homage to the revolutionary advances his music enabled and its influence on modern composers. Featuring an exceptional group of local and international artists and ensembles including Bach Akademie Australia, Korkmaz Can Sağlam, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Andrew Bukenya, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Benjamin Skepper and Ensemble Apex.
TEMPERAMENT CO-CURATORS
Olivia Ansell and Benjamin Skepper
