A Gramophone Podcast revisited: Exploring the genius of JS Bach

Friday, April 15, 2022

Jonathan Freeman-Attwood discusses Baroque music's greatest composer

While we take a short break, we've revisited one of the most popular podcasts episodes we've published. It's a conversation devoted to exploring the music, life and legacy of a composer whose work is very associated with Easter – the greatest genius of Baroque music, and arguably of all music, JS Bach.

In March 2021, Editor Martin Cullingford invited Bach specialist and Gramophone reviewer, the Royal Academy of Music's Principal Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, to talk about the composer of some of the most profound masterpieces ever written. The Podcast coincided with the publication of Gramophone Presents JS Bach, a special publication devoted to exploring the composer and his music.

Gramophone Podcasts are given in association with Wigmore Hall.

You can listen to the Podcast above. To hear other Gramophone podcasts, or to subscribe for free to new editions, search for 'Gramophone Magazine' in your Podcast application of choice, or visit Gramophone's page on Apple Music podcasts.

Musical excerpts taken from: the Cello Suites by David Watkin on Resonus; the Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin by Rachel Podger on Channel Classics; the Goldberg Variations by Beatrice Rana on Warner Classics; and the St Matthew Passion conducted by Masaaki Suzuki on BIS. 

Wigmore Hall concerts for the week starting April 16, 2002

Saturday April 16, 7.30pm
Florilegium / Ashley Solomon fte           
with
Rowan Pierce sop        
Helen Charlston mez      

Bach Orchestral Suite No 1 in C, BWV1066    
Pergolesi Flute Concerto in G            
Bach Sinfonia from Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal BWV146      
Pergolesi Stabat mater       

Sunday April 17, 11.30am
Heath Quartet      

Purcell Fantasia a 4 No 6 in F, Z737; Fantasia a 4 No 7 in C minor, Z738; Fantasia a 4 No 11 in G, Z742             
Schulhoff Five Pieces for String Quartet               
Janáček String Quartet No 2, 'Intimate Letters'             

Monday April 18, 1pm
Viktoria Mullova vn        
Alasdair Beatson fp               

Beethoven Violin Sonatas – No 7 in C minor, Op 30 No 2 & No 5 in F, Op 24, 'Spring'             

Monday April 18, 7.30pm
Stuart Skelton ten                 
Richard Peirson pf                

Grainger Bold William Taylor; Willow, Willow; Hard-Hearted Barbara Hellen    
Þorarinsson Fuglinn i fjörunni            
Kaldalóns Þu eina Hjartans yndið mitt             
Valgeir Sigurðsson Draumalandið    
Kaldalóns Ave Maria            
Wagner Wesendonck Lieder              
Korngold Abschiedslieder Op. 14     
Turina Poema en forma de canciones Op. 19

Tuesday April 19, 7.30pm
'Liturgical Feasts'
Gabrieli Consort & Players / Paul McCreesh  
with
Rowan Pierce sop        
Tim Mead counterten    
Hugo Hymas ten               
Matthew Brook bass-bar          

Bach Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats, BWV42 – Sinfonia. Mass in G minor, BWV235. Fantasia super 'Christ lag in Todesbanden', BWV695. Easter Oratorio 'Kommt, eilet und laufet', BWV249  

Wednesday April 20, 1.30pm
Kathleen Ferrier Awards 2022
Semi-Final

Wednesday April 20,  7.30pm
'Nicholas Daniel at 60'
Nicholas Daniel & friends

Poulenc Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano     
Hannah Kendall Tuxedo (Copper); Ivory Mask              
Prokofiev Trio for oboe, cello and piano (based on Flute Sonata in D Op 94, arr Auerbach)                
Poulenc Sonata for oboe and piano

Thursday April 21, 10.15am & 11.45am
Esther Sheridan workshop leader    

Chamber Tots: Animal Adventure
Music-making workshop for children aged 1-2 (10.15am) and 3-5 (11.45am) and their parents or carers

Thursday, April 21, 7.30pm
Solace: Concert in Support of SOS Children's Villages Ukraine Appeal
Nicholas Daniel ob
Lucas Krupinski pf
Leticia Muñoz Moreno vn
Kacper Nowak vc
Yuliya Ostapchuk vn
Kathryn Rudge mez
Maria Tarasewicz pf
Members of the Orion Orchestra
Nicky Spence ten

Roxanna Panufnik
Letters from Burma – Aung-ze Paing-ze
Chopin 
Cello Sonata in G minor Op. 65
Andrzej Panufnik
Love Song 
Penderecki
Polish Requiem – Ciaccona (trans Jeajoon Ryu. UK première)
R Panufnik
Faithful Journey: A Mass for Poland – My Man
Platon Mayboroda
My Dear Mother
Skoryk
Melody

Friday April 22, 6pm
Kathleen Ferrier Awards 2022
Final

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