2023 brings us an opportunity to celebrate one of the greatest events in musical history, J.S. Bach’s appointment as Thomaskantor in Leipzig. As a result, a new era in music history began. For the next 27 years, the requirements of his appointment combined with his deep faith and desire to encourage faith in all others, inspired Bach to produce music of such staggering beauty, complexity and profundity that changed the course of music forever. These works, particularly the cantatas, are still performed and idolised around the world today, demonstrated by the more than 300 Bach choirs and societies that exist worldwide. To celebrate this momentous event, we have chosen 3 of his most celebrated Leipzig cantatas and his jubilant motet ‘Singet dem Herrn’. How can the works of Bach ever be adequately summed up? We will leave it to our international patron Sir John Eliot Gardiner ’But it is Bach, making music in the Castle of Heaven, who gives us the voice of God – in human form. He is the one who blazes a trail, showing us how to overcome our imperfections through the perfections of his music: to make divine things human and human things divine.’

PROGRAM

J.S. Bach Chorale Prelude ‘In Dulci Jublio’ BWV 729a

J.S. Bach Cantata ‘Unser mund sei voll Lachens’ BWV 110

J.S. Bach Motet ‘Singet dem Herrn’ BWV 225

J.S. Bach Cantata ‘Jesu, der du meine Seele’ BWV 78

J.S. Bach Cantata ‘Wachet auf’ BWV 140