Episodes
Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
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2022 | 01 | Leipzig, 1723 | 20221219 | Leipzig has a brand new music director, and expectations are running high for the city's Christmas festivities. With Donald Macleod. Christmas can be special wherever you live, but to experience a truly Christmassy Christmas, many would say that the only place to go is Germany. Plenty of Britain's favourite Yuletide traditions originated there and Germany's citizens have always had a special knack for celebrating this time of year. This was certainly true in J.S. Bach's lifetime and, right through his career, he produced quantities of amazing Christmas music that we still love and revere today. All this week, Donald Macleod invites us to join Bach and his family during the Christmas season, at five different periods in his life, to see how his story develops and revel in the glorious works he created for Christmastime. Donald opens his series by dropping in on Bach to find him preparing for his very first Christmas in Leipzig. He's been in his new job, as the city's Music Director, for just a few months and the pressure is on! Everyone is watching to see if he can pull out all the stops for the biggest celebration of the year. Chorale Prelude: Gott, durch deine Güte, BWV 600 John Butt, organ Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BWV 91: Opening Chorus Bach Collegium Japan Chorus, Bach Collegium Japan, conducted by Masaaki Suzuki Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget, BWV 64: 5. Was die Welt in sich h䀀lt Arleen Auger, soprano; Bach-Collegium Stuttgar;, conducted by Helmuth Rilling Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40 Katherine Fuge, soprano; Joanne Lunn, soprano; Robin Tyson, alto; William Towers, alto; James Gilchrist, tenor; Peter Harvey, bass; Monteverdi Choir; English Baroque Soloists; conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner Prelude & Fugue in E-Flat Major, BWV 852 Wolfgang Rubsam, lute-harpsichord Magnificat in E-Flat Major, BWV 243a: Movts. 10-16 Julia Doyle, soprano; Joanne Lunn, soprano; Clare Wilkinson, alto; Nicholas Mulroy, tenor; Matthew Brook, bass; Dunedin Consort, conducted by John Butt Expectations are high as Bach plans his first Christmas in Leipzig. With Donald Macleod. |
2022 | 02 | Weimar, 1717 | 20221220 | As Bach languishes under arrest in Weimar, he reflects on Christmases past at the royal court there. With Donald Macleod. Christmas can be special wherever you live, but to experience a truly Christmassy Christmas, many would say that the only place to go is Germany. Plenty of Britain's favourite Yuletide traditions originated there and Germany's citizens have always had a special knack for celebrating this time of year. This was certainly true in J.S. Bach's lifetime and, right through his career, he produced quantities of amazing Christmas music that we still love and revere today. All this week, Donald Macleod invites us to join Bach and his family during the Christmas season, at five different periods in his life, to see how his story develops and revel in the glorious works he created for Christmastime. Today, Donald finds Bach imprisoned and facing the prospect of spending Christmas 1717 in captivity! We investigate how he got there and see how Bach's Christmas obligations evolved during his nearly ten years serving the court in Weimar, and the warring Dukes who presided there. Wachet! betet! betet! wachet', BWV 70a: Opening chorus Bach Collegium Japan, directed by Masaaki Suzuki In dulci jubilo, BWV 608; Lobt Gott, ihr Christen allzugleich, BWV 609; Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 610; Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich, BWV 605 Wolfgang Zerer, organ Christen, 䀀tzet diesen Tag, BWV 63: 3. Gott, du hast es wohl gefüget & 7. H怀chster, schau in Gnaden an Carolyn Sampson, soprano; Sebastian Noack, bass; Collegium Vocale Gent, directed by Philippe Herreweghe Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147: 4. Verstockung kann Gewaltige verblenden, 5. Bereite dir, Jesu, noch itzo die Bahn & 6. Wohl mir, da߀ ich Jesum habe Lisa Larsson, soprano; Klaus Mertens, bass; Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, directed by Ton Koopman Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 599 Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 538 Ton Koopman, organ Bach is put under arrest in Weimar and reflects on Christmases past. With Donald Macleod. |
2022 | 03 | C\u00f6then, 1721 | 20221221 | Bach's next job takes him away from the church music duties he's known all his life. Christmases will feel very different in C怀then. With Donald Macleod. Christmas can be special wherever you live, but to experience a truly Christmassy Christmas, many would say that the only place to go is Germany. Plenty of Britain's favourite Yuletide traditions originated there and Germany's citizens have always had a special knack for celebrating this time of year. This was certainly true in J.S. Bach's lifetime and, right through his career, he produced quantities of amazing Christmas music that we still love and revere today. All this week, Donald Macleod invites us to join Bach and his family during the Christmas season, at five different periods in his life, to see how his story develops and revel in the glorious works he created for Christmastime. Today, Donald takes us to the town of C怀then where Bach has accepted the post of overseeing musical entertainments at the Prince's palace. For the first time in his career, Bach is not required to provide music for church services, even at Christmas. However, Bach and his family still find plenty of ways to enjoy a festive and musical Christmas season, especially in 1721 when there's a very special celebration. Tritt auf die Glaubensbahn, BWV 152: 1. Sinfonia Freiburger Barockorchester, directed by Petra Müllejan Der Himmel dacht auf Anhalts Ruhm und Glück, BWV 66a: 2. Traget ihr Lufte den Jubel von hinnen Wiebke Lehmkuhl, alto; Mitteldeutsche Hofmusik, directed by Alexander Ferdinand Grychtolik Brandenburg Concerto No 4: 1. Allegro Academy of Ancient Music, directed by Richard Egarr. 15 sinfonias for keyboard: No 11 in Gm, BWV 797; No 12 in A, BWV 798; No 13 in Am, BWV 799; No 10 in G, BWV 796 Angela Hewitt, piano Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut, BWV 199 Nancy Argenta, soprano; Ensemble Sonnerie; directed by Monica Huggett A new job means Bach's Christmases will now feel very different. With Donald Macleod. |
2022 | 04 | Leipzig, 1734 | 20221222 | After a decade of providing extraordinary music to Leipzig's churches, Bach makes plans for his most elaborate Christmas yet. With Donald Macleod. Christmas can be special wherever you live, but to experience a truly Christmassy Christmas, many would say that the only place to go is Germany. Plenty of Britain's favourite Yuletide traditions originated there and Germany's citizens have always had a special knack for celebrating this time of year. This was certainly true in J.S. Bach's lifetime and, right through his career, he produced quantities of amazing Christmas music that we still love and revere today. All this week, Donald Macleod invites us to join Bach and his family during the Christmas season, at five different periods in his life, to see how his story develops and revel in the glorious works he created for Christmastime. Today, Donald returns us to Leipzig, ten years after we previously visited Bach there and saw him eager to impress his new employers. In 1734 we find an altogether more jaded Bach, feeling undermined and under-appreciated. The composer's famous temper had led to more than one run-in with his employers and colleagues. So what was keeping him in Leipzig? And what prompted him to embark on his most ambitious Christmas project yet? Christmas Oratorio, BWV248, Part 6: Opening Chorus: Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben Bach Collegium Japan, directed by Masaaki Suzuki Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV1043: 2. Largo ma non tanto Simon Standage, violin; Elizabeth Wilcock, violin; The English Concert; directed by Trevor Pinnock Flute Sonata No 4 in C major, BWV1033: 1. Andante: Presto & 2. Allegro Barthold Kuijken, flute; Ewald Demeyere, harpsichord Mass in B minor, BWV 232: Domine Deus & Qui tollis peccata mundi Christina Landshamer, soprano; Kenneth Tarver, tenor; Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks; Concerto K怀ln; directed by Peter Dijkstra Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Part 3 (complete) Monika Frimmer, soprano; Yoshikazu Mera, counter-tenor; Gerd Türk, tenor; Peter Kooij, bass; Bach Collegium Japan; directed by Masaaki Suzuki |
2022 | 05 LAST | Leipzig, 1745 | 20221223 | Bach resists pressure to give up his status as music director for Christmas services at Leipzig's University Church. Presented by Donald Macleod. Christmas can be special wherever you live, but to experience a truly Christmassy Christmas, many would say that the only place to go is Germany. Plenty of Britain's favourite Yuletide traditions originated there and Germany's citizens have always had a special knack for celebrating this time of year. This was certainly true in J.S. Bach's lifetime and, right through his career, he produced quantities of amazing Christmas music that we still love and revere today. All this week, Donald Macleod invites us to join Bach and his family during the Christmas season, at five different periods in his life, to see how his story develops and revel in the glorious works he created for Christmastime. In this final Programme, Donald follows Bach and his musicians as they're forced to sprint between churches on Christmas Day, and we see the old composer produce a splendid final Christmas Cantata for the scholars of Leipzig University. Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV 110: Opening Chorus Maria Keohane, soprano; Carlos Mena, alto; Julian Pr退gardien, tenor; St退phan MacLeod, bass; Ricercar Consort; directed by Philippe Pierlot A Musical Offering, BWV 1079, Sonata sopr'il Sogetto Reale a Traversa, Violino e Continuo: 1. Largo & 2. Allegro Barthold Kuijken, flute; Sigiswald Kuijken, violin; Wieland Kuijken, viola; Robert Kohnen, harpsichord Canonic Variations on 'Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her', BWV 769 Simon Preston, organ Gloria in excelsis Deo, BWV 191 Claron McFadden, soprano; Christoph Genz, tenor; Monteverdi Choir; English Baroque Soloists; directed by Sir John Eliot Gardiner Puer natus in Bethlehem, BWV 603 Dunedin Consort, directed by John Butt Bach produces his final cantata for Christmas Day. With Donald Macleod. |