Tag: Johann Sebastian Bach

Kyrie Eleison, The King’s Consort, Wigmore Hall, 23 February 2000

A delicious concert of baroque, mostly sacred, music at The Wig. We had thrown ourselves into the baroque season that year, venturing even on a Wednesday evening, which was usually off limits in our busy lives back then. I recall that the effort was well worth it.

We heard:

  • Johann Heinrich Schmelzer – Sonata no 8 in G
  • Sebastian Knüpfer – Wenn Mein Stundlein Vorhanden Ist
  • Johann Sebastian Bach – Mass in G Minor, BWV 235
  • Johann Sebastian Bach – Mass in G Major, BWV 236
  • Georg Muffat – Sonata ‘a cinque’ in D
  • Johann Kuhnau – Tristis Est Anima Mea

Back then, The King’s Consort was a bit of an “all stars” affair in the early music world, with Carolyn Sampson, Rebecca Outram, Charles Daniels and Andrew Carwood, to name but four, all appearing under Robert King’s banner.

Some unusual pieces in there too. Let’s see if I can dig out some tasty samples. Here’s a sweet performance of the Schmelzer by Ensemble Masques

The Knüpfer was part of The King’s Consort’s recording projects around that time. Here is their recording:

The first of the Bach Masses at the centre of this concert, BWV 235, has been beautifully recorded live by the Netherlands Bach Society.

Here is Herreweghe’s version of the Kyrie from the Bach Mass BWV 236. You can load and click through for the whole of this mass if you wish:

The King’s Consort had also recently recorded the Kuhnau a couple of years before this concert. Here is their beautiful recording.

Im Zimmermanschen Kaffeehaus, A Weekend With Trevor Pinnock & His Pals, Wigmore Hall, 14 & 15 January 2000

A pair of baroque concerts over that weekend – Friday evening and Saturday evening. We chose to go and see both. It was part of a series named “Bach & His Contemporaries”.

I logged that Janie and I both described the concerts as:

superb.

On the Friday evening we saw/heard:

  • Johann Sebastian Bach – Trio Sonata in G for violin, flute and continuo
  • Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer – Chaconne in D minor for solo harpsicord
  • Diderik Buxtehude – Sonata in B flat for violin and viola da gamba Op 1 no 4 BuxWV255
  • Johann Sebastian Bach – Sonata in B minor for flute and harpsicord, BWV 1030
  • Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber – Passacaglia for solo violin
  • Johann Sebastian Bach – Sonata in G minor for viola da gamba and harpsicord, BWV 1029
  • Johann Sebastian Bach – Trio Sonata from the Musical Offering, BWB 1079

On the Saturday evening we heard:

  • Georg Philipp Telemann – Suite in A minor for recorder and strings
  • Johann Sebastian Bach – Concerto in C for two harpsicords, BWV 1061
  • Johann Sebastian Bach – Sonata in G for violin and harpsicord, BWV 1019
  • Sylvius Leopold Weiss – Tombeau sur le mort de M Comte de Logy
  • Johann Sebastian Bach – Orchestral Suite no 2 in B minor

Trevor Pinnock, Rachel Podger and some of the others recorded the Bach trio sonatas that year. I have put together a playlist on YouTube Music which includes those lovely sonatas and some other pieces from the January 2000 weekend – click here to listen to that playlist. Don’t be put off by the strike through on the link – anyone can hear the playlist but you will get adverts if you are not yourself a YouTube Music subscriber.

If you prefer to just click the odd embed, here is one of the Bach sonatas we heard Trevor and Rachel play:

I wasn’t familiar with the work of JCF Fischer. Here’s Trevor Pinnock playing Fischer’s passacaglia, not the chaconne we heard. Still lovely:

Here are some other people playing (part of) the Telemann Overture/Suite that we heard:

The Weiss piece was a delicious listen. Here is Evangelina Mascardi giving it a go.

We heard William Carter play the Weiss at that January 2000 concert, long before Janie’s “mystery punter” evening at the same venue:

William Carter, Theorbist Extraordinaire’s Mystery Punter Outed, 24 September 2010

Finally, here is a YouTube of the closing number from that brace of delicious concerts, with music so you can play along with it if you wish:

Wachet Auf: The King’s Consort At The Wigmore Hall, 9 December 1999

“Wachet Auf” means “Wake Up!”, which was possibly an early call for wokery back in the Baroque period…or possibly not. In any case, I wouldn’t recommend English speakers barking this German language expletive after a couple of G&Ts – it might be misunderstood.

We rated this gig “very good”. Some lesser known works by Bach’s lesser known contemporaries, sandwiched between a bit of Telemann and a bit of Bach:

  • Ouverture “Perpetuum Mobile”, Georg Philipp Telemann
  • Balletti Lamentabili a 4, Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
  • O Heilige Zeit, Johann Kuhnau
  • Sinfonia No 2 in C Minor, Johann Ludwig Krebs
  • Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns die Strimme Cantata BWV 140, Johann Sebastian Bach

Here is O Heilige Zeit performed by Solomon’s Knot:

Here is the Krebs Sinfonia, performed by Capella jenensis:

Here is a recording of Wachet Auf by the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra under Ton Koopman…

…whom we saw 25 years later performing Telemann sonatas and Tafelmusik at The Wig:

Ton Koopman 80th Birthday Celebration, Soloists of the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Wigmore Hall, 29 November 2024

Till Fellner, Wigmore Hall, 2 October 1999

The then young Austrian pianist, Till Fellner, played a mixture of Bach and Beethoven that night:

  • Ludwig van Beethoven – Sonata in A major Op 101
  • Johann Sebastian Bach – The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1, BWV 850 to 853
  • Ludwig van Beethoven – Six Bagatelles, Op 126
  • Johann Sebastian Bach – The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1, BWV 846 to 849

This concert helped to cement Janie’s view that she is more a Bach person than a Beethoven person. I enjoyed all of it.

Here’s a recording of Till Fellner playing book one of The Well-Tempered Clavier with wonderfully light touch:

Here’s Andras Schiff playing and lecturing on the Beethoven A major sonata some 15 years later at The Wig:

Wigmore Hall Concert With Sonnerie, 23 September 1999

Excellent concert, this. Sonnerie was a superb but fluid ensemble, led by the indomitable Monica Huggett.

On this occasion they comprised Monica Huggett, Gary Cooper, Wilbert Hazelzet, Pamela Thorby, Catherine Latham, Katherine McGillivray, Catherine Martin, Emilia Benjamin, Alison McGillivray and Sarah Groser.

Here is the playlist from the gig:

  • Jean-Philippe Rameau – Pieces de clavecin en concerts No 3 in A major
  • Georg Philipp Telemann – Concerto for Flute, Oboe d’amore, Viola d’amore, Strings and Continuo in E major
  • Antonio Lucio Vivaldi – Concerto for Violin, Strings and Continuo in D major (“Il Grosso Mogul”) RV208
  • Georg Philipp Telemann – Concerto for Flute, recorder, Strings and Continuo in E minor
  • Johann Sebastian Bach – Sonata No 1 for Violin and Harpsicord in B minor BWV 1014
  • Johann Sebastian Bach – Concerto for Harpsicord, 2 Recorders, Strings and Continuo in F major BWV 1057

Here is a clip from an earlier but lovely recording of the E major Telemann piece, which includes Monica Huggett with the Academy of Ancient Music

While here is a lovely video of Ensemble Odyssee playing the Bach concerto we heard that evening:

We both went straight from work and both had early starts the next morning, so I guess we supped light at Sandall Close after the gig.

A Night At The Proms Without The Duchess But With Trevor Pinnock & The English Concert, 8 August 1999

Liberated from hosting The Duchess at The Proms, Janie and I went along to this concert on a Sunday evening planning nothing more than a light supper at my flat after the show. It was a Sunday evening and we both had ridiculously early starts the next morning.

Here’s the running order:

  • Johann Sebastian Bach, Singet dem Herrn, BWV 225
  • Joseph Haydn, Symphony No. 49 in F minor ‘La passione’
  • Joseph Haydn, Non nobis, Domine, Hob. XXIIIa:1
  • Joseph Haydn, Insanae et vanae curae
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Requiem in D minor (compl. Süssmayr).

This was an excellent concert. You don’t need to take my word for that – it seems it got rave reviews afterwards. It has taken me 25 years to check out those rave reviews, but that’s me.

Here’s Geoffrey Norris in The Telegraph:

Pinnock Telegraph NorrisPinnock Telegraph Norris 09 Aug 1999, Mon The Daily Telegraph (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Tom Sutcliffe in the Standard was a little more equivocal, but still wrote very well of the gig.

Pinnock Sutcliffe StandardPinnock Sutcliffe Standard 09 Aug 1999, Mon Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Steuerman Does Goldberg At The Wigmore Hall, 11 February 1999

Unusual for us to go to a concert on a Thursday evening in those days. I don’t think I’d yet heard The Goldberg Variations live and was keen to do so.

Jean-Louis Steuerman, that boy can sure tinkle the ivories.

Take my word for it.

Actually, no need for you to take my word for it – here’s that very chap playing that very aria:

I told you he can play.

Kontrabande At The Wigmore Hall, 6 January 1999

25 years ago, Janie and I decided to party like it’s 1999 at the start of 1999. What better to do that than a concert of baroque music at The Wigmore Hall.

These are the pieces we heard/saw:

  • Cantata “Cessate Omai Cessate”, Antonio Lucio Vivaldi
  • Sinfonia to Cantata BWV 49, Johann Sebastian Bach
  • Concerto for Oboe d’Amore BWV 1055 (also transcribed Harpsicord), Johann Sebastian Bach
  • Cantata BWV 82 “Ich Habe Genug”, Johann Sebastian Bach
  • Concerto for Viola da Gamba and Recorder in A Minor, Georg Philipp Telemann
  • Cantata BWV 170 “Vergnugte Ruh”, Johann Sebastian Bach.

The Standard previewed the concert thusly:

Standard Kontrabande 6 Jan 1999Standard Kontrabande 6 Jan 1999 06 Jan 1999, Wed Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Perhaps there was a change of programme or perhaps my notes missed out the Handel by mistake. I’ll check back to the programme when next I can face the thought of an archaeological dig into my programme collection.

For sure we saw the small chamber ensemble, Kontrabande, with Charles Humphries doing the counter-tenor bit and Clare Salaman on the baroque violin. Sadly, I learn that Clare, who was an expert on strange and ancient instruments, didn’t make it to the 25th anniversary of this Kontrabande concert.

Here’s a video of Clare playing a strange and ancient instrument – the nyckelharpa – I don’t believe I have ever seen this instrument played live:

Here is an audio YouTube of Charles Humphries singing one of the Bach arias we heard, vergnugte Ruh, accompanied by Kontrabande:

While here is the Bremer Baroque Orchestra (similar scale to Kontrabande if I remember correctly) playing the very Telemann concerto we heard back then:

Academy Of Ancient Music Prom, Royal Albert Hall, 17 August 1998

This amazing concert was the culmination of a most enjoyable day off in South Kensington, which started with baroque music at the V&A at lunchtime…

BBC Proms Lunchtime Concert, Victoria & Albert Museum, 17 August 1998

…and got better from there.

The “big Prom” in the evening was really quite special. Here is a link to the BBC stub.

We heard:

  • George Frideric Handel – Coronation Anthem ‘The king shall rejoice’
  • Johann Sebastian Bach – Violin Concerto in E major
  • George Frideric Handel – Water Music – Suite No. 2 in D Major, No. 1 (Overture:) Andante – Allegro
  • George Frideric Handel  – Water Music – Suite No. 2 in D Major, No. 2 Alla hornpipe
  • George Frideric Handel – Water Music – Suite No. 3 in G major, No. 1 Sarabande (Minuet)
  • George Frideric Handel  – Water Music – Suite No. 3 in G major, No. 2 Rigaudon (Presto)
  • George Frideric Handel  – Water Music – Suite No. 2 in D Major, No. 4 Lentement
  • George Frideric Handel – Water Music – Suite No. 2 in D Major,  No. 5 Air (Bourrée)
  • George Frideric Handel  – Water Music – Suite No. 3 in G major, No. 3 Minuets 1 & 2
  • George Frideric Handel  – Water Music – Suite No. 3 in G major, No. 4 Gigue (Country Dance)
  • George Frideric Handel  – Water Music – Suite No. 2 in D Major, No. 3 (Trumpet) Minuet
  • George Frideric Handel  – Coronation Anthem ‘Zadok the Priest’
  • Antonio Vivaldi – Nulla in mundo pax sincera, RV 630 (Proms premiere)
  • Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto for Violin, Two Oboes, Two Horns, Cello and Bassoon in F major, RV 571 (Proms premiere)
  • George Frideric Handel – Sing unto God, HWV 263 (Proms premiere)

I’m not usually too keen on baroque in the Albert Hall, but this worked.

Matthew Rye gave it a good write up in The Telegraph:

Prom 39 1998 Rye TelegraphProm 39 1998 Rye Telegraph 18 Aug 1998, Tue The Daily Telegraph (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

We agree.

Bach At The Proms, Royal Albert Hall, 2 August 1993

Our first Prom together. BBC Prom I’m talking about. And when I say, “together”, that wasn’t just me and Janie – oh no – we also had her mother, Pauline, in tow.

In truth Janie wasn’t too keen on the idea of a “classical concert”, whereas Pauline was a keen music listener.

Still, Janie professed to liking Brandenberg Concertos, so this concert, entirely comprising J S Bach works, including three of the Brandenbergs, seemed a suitable entry point. This, despite my reservations about the Royal Albert Hall as a venue for baroque period music.

Here is a link to the BBC stub for this Prom. The Hanover Band with some cracking soloists: Anthony Robson, Benjamin Hudson, Catherine Latham, Robert Farley, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Rachel Brown, directed by Anthony Halstead.

This is what we heard:

  • Brandenburg Concerto No 2 in F major, BWV 1047
  • Keyboard Concerto in F minor, BWV 1056
  • Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major
  • Concerto for Two Keyboards in C minor, BWV 1060 (version for oboe & violin)
  • Brandenburg Concerto No 5 in D major, BWV 1050

Here is a later recording of The Hanover Band doing Brandenberg 5:

Meirion Bowen in the Guardian rated this Prom highly, while concurring with my view about the unsuitability of baroque music scaled authentically in the Albert Hall:

Hanover Prom Bowen GuardianHanover Prom Bowen Guardian 04 Aug 1993, Wed The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com