The music of the two grand masters of the Baroque era, Bach and Handel, is still one of the highlights of the classical and Baroque music world today. The lives of the two composers could not have been more different: Bach, who never travelled beyond his East German homeland and worked in a narrow circle, and Handel, who left his East German homeland first for Hamburg, then for Italy and finally for London and was therefore truly accepted as a cosmopolitan.
Alongside the Passions and Masses, Bach's cantatas are among his main vocal works and represent the entire Baroque cosmos. This concert features two magnificent Advent cantatas, BWV 62 ‘Nun komm der Heiden Heiland’ (for 1 Advent 1724 in St Thomas's Church Leipzig) and BWV 133 ‘Ich freue mich in dir’ (for 3 Advent 1724 in St Nicholas's Church Leipzig).
In contrast to Bach, Handel was also an important opera composer. In addition to his operas, his major vocal works include the great oratorios. His cantata-like pieces, the anthems, were composed for various occasions. In 1713, the War of the Spanish Succession (the first world war of the early modern period), which had been going on since 1700, came to an end with the Peace of Utrecht. The British benefited most from the outcome of the war and were now able to further expand their status as a world power. In the following years under the reign of King George I, however, the dispute between the king and his successor, the Prince of Wales (later King George II), smouldered in the inner centre of power to such an extent that the entire opera and cultural scene suffered from this rivalry and came to a partial standstill. This benefited the Earl of Carnarvon, James Brydges (1674-1744), who had become very wealthy during the war as paymaster to the army. In 1714 he was given the earldom of Carnarvon, and in April 1719 he became the first Duke of Chandos. He had the Cannons estate to the north of London royally extended. From 1720, he organised church services in the magnificent chapel belonging to it with the best music and the best musicians, modelled on the royal chapel. Some of the so-called Chandos Anthems, which Handel wrote for Brydges shortly after the performance of the orchestral suite ‘Water Musick’ in 1717, were still performed in the neighbouring parish church of St. Lawrence.
The concert will feature Anthem No. 7 ‘My song shall be alway’ HWV 252, which comprises an introductory instrumental symphony and a further 7 movements for soloists and choir.
On 17 July 1717, Handel's suite Water Musick HWV 348 was performed open air during a royal boat trip by George I on the Thames from Whitehall to Chelsea (and back again). In addition to the introductory overture in the French style, the work consists of numerous slower and faster baroque dance movements such as the Air, Minuet and Bourée. A few selected movements from this popular work will be performed at the concert.
The concert is suitable for those interested in culture and all friends of classical and baroque music, as well as for families.
Switzerland
Germany
Austria
