Bach — Brandenburg Concertos by Candlelight
London, St Mary Le Strand Church
About the Event
Celebrate the festive season in the radiant glow of candlelight with a dazzling evening dedicated to the genius of J.S. Bach, performed in the breathtakingly beautiful St Mary le Strand — one of London’s hidden baroque gems.
At the heart of this special Christmas concert are two of J.S.Bach’s most brilliant and exhilarating works: the Brandenburg Concertos No. 3 and No. 4. These vibrant, virtuosic masterpieces overflow with festive energy and joyful complexity — a perfect match for the spirit of the season.
They are joined by other beloved gems from the Bach repertoire, including the serene Air on the G String and the lyrical Violin Concerto in E major, performed by celebrated violinist Laura Rickard. To complete the evening, the programme includes Corelli’s much‐loved Christmas Concerto — a tender and pastoral work long associated with the sacred beauty of the nativity.
“Stunning” – Classic FM
With over 200 performances each year, The Piccadilly Sinfonietta has become a much‐loved fixture on the UK classical scene, acclaimed for its spirited interpretations and exceptional musicianship. Wrap yourself in the joy and brilliance of the baroque this Christmas, and let the Brandenburgs shine in a setting of candlelight and architectural splendour!'
Program
- Johann Sebastian Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048
- Johann Sebastian Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049
- Johann Sebastian Bach – Air on the G String, from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068
- Johann Sebastian Bach – Violin Concerto in E Major BWV 1042
- Arcangelo Corelli – Concerto Grosso in G minor, op. 6, no. 8, "Christmas Concerto"
Artists
| Violin: | Laura Rickard |
|---|---|
| Ensemble: | The Piccadilly Sinfonietta |
Johann Sebastian Bach
The name Bach and the word musician had long been synonyms in Germany as the world saw 56 musicians from this kin. But it was Johann Sebastian Bach, a genius composer and virtuoso organ player, who shed lustre on his family name. He was born on th 31st of March 1685 in Eisenach, a small town in Thuringia. At the age of 10 he became an orphan and was brought up by his elder brother Johann Christoph, who was an organist in a neighbouring town. His brother was the one to teach music to the young Johann Sebastian. Later he moved to Luneburg where he attended a church school and mastered the techniques of playing violin, viola, piano and organ by the age of 17. Besides that, Bach was a choir singer and later after his voice broke he became a chanter’s assistant. In 1703 Bach was hired as a court musician in the chapel of Duke Johann Ernst III. He earned such a good reputation there that he was later invited to Arnstadt to be an organist at the New Church, where he wrote his best organ works. In 1723 he moved to Leipzig to be a chantor at St. Thomas Church where he stayed until his death of a stroke in 1750. In the year of his death he had undergone unsuccessful eye surgery which lead him to lose his eyesight. During that strenuous time his second wife Anna Magdalena helped him to write his last musical pieces. Bach’s artistic legacy is vast. He created compositions in all genres of the time: oratorias, cantatas, masses, motets, music for organ, piano and violin.
Address
St Mary Le Strand Church, Strand, London, United Kingdom — Google Maps
