Die Wege Bachs

A musical journey in the tracks of Johann Sebastian Bach

Almost 100 kilometres on foot and by bike, four intimate concerts in extraordinary churches in Thuringia. Immerse yourself in the world of Bach with 50 artists. Unforgettable shared experiences with hikes, picnics, public rehearsals and concerts - an unforgettable musical journey!

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In the form of a large fresco, this programme presents three of the greatest masterpieces from Bach's early creative period: full of contrasts in their language and texture, they take us from darkness into light. Cantata 199 is one of the darkest that the young cantor Bach wrote. It reflects a soul plagued by guilt. Only in the final pages appears a glimmer of hope of redemption through trust in the divine. The famous cantata 106 (also known as Actus Tragicus) that follows it is one of Bach's purest works. It pays homage to the old masters and plays with some archaisms, particularly in the use of viols and recorders.

Finally, Cantata 4, written for Easter Sunday, spans an extraordinary thematic and musical arc. Based on variations of a single chorale, the cantata allows us to experience the suffering of Christ before introducing us to the mystery of the resurrection with a famous virtuoso and jubilant Alleluia.