Bach Violin Concertos
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- What you'll hear
- All about the music
Bright. Direct. Take a refreshing musical shower.
Who’s on stage
Maria Włoszczowska has incredible energy and passion as both a violinist and director. Tonight she leads Royal Northern Sinfonia in a new role as Artistic Partner.
Need to know
Price: £19 – £46
Discounts: save if you’re under 17, aged 18 – 30, a classical first timer, or a group of 10 or more people. Check the details.
Running time: 1 hour 40 minutes, including a 20 minute interval.
Age: under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.
Can’t make it along? This concert will be streamed live to YouTube
What you'll hear
Johann Sebastian Bach Sinfonia from Cantata No. 174 (5’)
Johann Sebastian Bach Sinfonia from Cantata No. 4 (1’30”)
Johann Sebastian Bach Violin Concerto No. 2 (16’)
Johann Sebastian Bach Sinfonia from Cantata No. 21 (3’)
Johann Sebastian Bach Sinfonia in D major (6’)
Johann Sebastian Bach Violin Concerto No. 1 (14’)
Johann Sebastian Bach Chaconne from D Minor solo partita (12’)
Johann Sebastian Bach Orchestral Suite No. 3 (20’)
Who's playing
Maria Włoszczowska director/violin
Royal Northern Sinfonia
What's happening in the music?
It’s astounding to think that something written 300 or so years ago can still speak to us today with amazing directness. Bach’s Violin Concertos do that, and are a total treat; bright, zesty, and full of melodies that almost tumble over themselves to be heard – it’s like taking a shower the morning after a big night out, you feel like a new person afterward! His orchestral suite is a different affair, stately and grand, unlike the spare beauty of his concertos, and of course, you may remember one of its movements as the signature music from a famous brand of cigar adverts from the 1980s…
We are family
Like the Jacksons, the Strauss’ and the Beach Boys, Bach came from a family that wasn’t just good at music, they pretty much were music. His father was an organist and two of his brothers were musicians too. Of his family, JS might be the superstar, but CPE (his son) Bach was the bad boy, not afraid to challenge convention. JCF Bach (another son) was a virtuoso on the keyboard and also a composer and JC Bach (yet another son) became a composer for London’s West End. If you’re thinking that Bach seemed to have quite a few kids you’d be right – he had 20!
Bach for more?
That’s the last of our Bach puns, promise. Anyway, if you love his music, check out our concert on 4 October when we’re playing his Brandenburg Concerto No.5.
