October 28th, 2022 - 20:30
Igreja de São Romão de Carnaxide
Oeiras

‘The Art of Fugue’ of Johann Sebastian Bach

Bach Consort Wien presents The Art of Fugue, probably the most famous and at the same time the rarest work by J.S.Bach to be heard live. In the instrumentation with violins, viola, violoncello and harpsichord, the musicians bring his legacy to life and master the rewarding challenge by presenting the artfully varied theme and the complex counterpoints in a colourful spectrum of musical gestures and emotions.
Mathematics and musical creativity, at first glance contradictory opposites, Bach knows how to unite in these eighteen fugues and canons. At the same time, the self-imposed fetters of this strict compositional technique in no way restrict Bach in his passionate musical expression. The last fugue of this unfinished work breaks off just after the sequence of notes B-A-C-H. As a conciliatory conclusion, the chorale Vor deinen Thron tret ich hiermit is heard in redeeming G major.

BACH CONSORT WIEN

Founded in 1999, Bach Consort Wien under the direction of Rubén Dubrovsky quickly developed to be one of the most important baroque ensembles in Austria.
With regular performances, Bach Consort Wien is represented at the Vienna Musikverein, Palau de la Musica Barcelona and Valencia, Mozarteum Salzburg, at the Händelfestspiele Halle, Barocktage Melk, in Schwetzingen, Winterthur and others. The ensemble works with soloists such as Bernarda Fink, Franco Fagioli, Michael Schade, Vivica Genaux, Florian Boesch, Christiane Karg and Andreas Scholl. Concertmaster Agnes Stradner unites the core members of the ensemble in diverse settings for highlights of baroque chamber music.
The discography of the Bach Consort Wien includes live recordings of sacred works by Antonio Vivaldi with Vivica Genaux and with Andreas Scholl, Handel's "Messiah" (Gramola), and the albums "Pace e Guerra" (Harmonia Mundi) and "Vidala - Argentina and Roots of European Baroque" (Sony).

BACH CONSORT WIEN
Agnes Stradner, violin
Anna Morgoulets, violin
Hana Hobiger, viola
Katarzyna Maria Cichon, cello
Sonja Leipold, harpsichord