Historical background to the evening programme

It provides access to Johann Sebastian Bach's world of sound and highlights historical backgrounds, musical features and exciting research findings relating to the evening's programme.

The focus is on three works that impressively reflect Bach's creative range: the magnificent Brandenburg Concerto in F major, BWV 1046, whose virtuoso brilliance and baroque richness of colour continue to fascinate to this day; the powerful Toccata and Fugue in F major, BWV 540, a masterpiece for organ full of architectural clarity and rhapsodic energy; and the festive and luminous opening chorus ‘Lasst uns sorgen, lasst uns wachen’ from the Christmas Oratorio – music that is both jubilant and radiates inner contemplation.

The lecture brings the works to life in their historical and musical dimensions, preparing the audience for an intense listening experience in the concert that follows.