(c) Andrey Chuntomov Eva Zaïcik sings Bach: Oratoire du Louvre
Paris, Eglise de l'Oratoire du Louvre — Main Hall
About the Event
The identities of Bach's singers are unknown, and we can only guess at their abilities through the music that the Kantor wrote for them. The fact that he composed two entire cantatas as complex as BWV 35 and 169 for solo alto in 1726 proves that he had an exceptional voice at his disposal at the time. BWV 35 immediately strikes the listener with its instrumental intensity, featuring a sparkling obbligato organ, perhaps played by Bach himself at the premiere. Its two great arias (Geist und Seele wird verwirret and Gott hat alles wohl gemacht) are formidable in their speed, breath control, wide vocal range and mastery of the lines. The more luminous BWV 169 also gives pride of place to an orchestra featuring a solo organ. Its two arias, the sunny Gott soll allein mein Herze haben and the more tormented Stirb in mir, Welt, are technically less acrobatic but present numerous harmonic pitfalls for the voice.
Eva Zaïcik is the ideal performer for these pieces, with her superlative mastery and radiant timbre. Above all, she has that sensitivity to the word that is so important in Bach, fervent without being excessive. Her collaboration with Maude Gratton, one of our great harpsichordists and a magnificent interpreter of Bach, and her ensemble il Convito is undoubtedly a meeting of the minds.
Program
- Johann Sebastian Bach – Geist und Seele wird verwirret, BWV 35
- Johann Sebastian Bach – Cantata 'Gott soll allein mein Herze haben' BWV 169
Cast / Production
Eva Zaïcik, mezzo‐soprano
il Convito
Maude Gratton, organ and direction
Address
Eglise de l'Oratoire du Louvre, 145, rue Saint‐Honoré, Paris, France — Google Maps
