Opéra Royal - Bach: The Six Brandenburg Concertos

Cultural

A veritable ‘art of the concerto’ in the style of Bach, these ‘six concerts for several instruments’ are a rare display of virtuosity.

He called on the strings, of course, but also various soloists such as the harpsichord and trumpet, in a mixture of styles in which the Italian concerto dominated, but with an extraordinary science of German-style contrapuntal interweaving and magnificent French influences.

But this is the masterpiece, a fantastic demonstration of Bach's genius in creating a new type of concerto, one that is not really Italian and not really in the French style, but rather an original form, structured by abundant writing and melodies of obvious beauty. The concertos follow one another without resembling one another, all different in their instrumentation and solo instruments, but united by Bach's inventive ardour. The result is an exceptional body of work, ranging from an old-fashioned viol concerto (but what irresistible volubility with seven performers!) to an orchestral form for nineteen musicians, including two horns and three oboes.

This work was to enjoy a posterity equal to the nuggets it contains: today it is the foundation of chamber and orchestral music, especially in Germany, where it is the instrumentalists' Bible.