Imagine sitting in the Thomaskirche on Sunday morning in Leipzig, four years into Bach’s tenure as musical director.
By now you’re used to some extraordinary music from the great man, but BWV 169 is something else. Not only does it begin with what can only be described as an organ concerto but then it uses just one alto voice to praise God alone. Telemann and Graupner both revel in the gorgeous combination of flute and oboe d’amore before a final Bach cantata draws all these threads together with a blockbuster organ sinfonia and and more stunning writing for massed woodwind.
Johann Sebastian Bach Gott soll allein, BWV 169
Georg Phillip Telemann Concerto for Flute, Oboe d’amore, Viola d’amore, TWV 53:E1
Christoph Graupner Ouverture in F major, GWV 445
Johann Sebastian Bach Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal, BWV 146
John Butt director
Alexander Chance countertenor
Stephen Farr obbligato organ
Alexandra Bellamy oboe d’amore
Katy Bircher flute
Huw Daniel viola d’amore
Dunedin Consort side-by-side with players from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Pre-concert talk with John Butt at 6.30pm.
Tickets: £30, £25; disabled/wcu £16, £13; under 30s/student/unwaged £6; under 18s free. Purchase on the Queen’s Hall website.
