What do Bach researchers, performers and fans dream of? More masterpieces to add to J.S.’s thousand-strong catalogue of works! It’s hardly an everyday occurrence, of course, but on very rare occasions someone unearths a nugget of gold. Bach researcher, keyboard expert and conductor Alexander Grychtolik has done exactly that, turning an unfinished Passion oratorio into a pearl fit for the stage. The piece, composed for Good Friday in 1725, survived in fragments within other compositions. Picander’s text was also preserved, with its free, evocative poetry that recounts Jesus’ personal suffering and as such follows a striking trend of Bach’s time. Performed by an all-star cast and the always sparkling Il Gardellino, this brand-new Bach will have its Belgian première at AMUZ.
Program
J.S. Bach: Passion Oratorio, BWV Anh. 169
Performers
Thomas Hobbs, tenor/evangelist | Tiemo Wang, baritone/Jesus | Jana Pieters, soprano | William Shelton, countertenor | Jonathan Sells, bass | Il Gardellino | Alexander Grychtolik, reconstruction & musical director