© In höchsten Tönen! Classic in the Crypt: Johann Sebastian Bach — Goldberg Variations
Vienna, Peterskirche — Krypta
About the Event
Experience Johann Sebastian Bach’s fascinating Goldberg Variations in a unique historical setting. The crypt of St. Peter’s Church offers an intimate setting that impressively showcases the depth and beauty of this masterpiece with outstanding acoustics.
The Goldberg Variations are considered the pinnacle of Baroque variation music. Stefan Donner’s playing is characterized by technical brilliance, emotional depth, as well as dedication and precision. A master of his craft.
Classical Music in the Crypt offers extraordinary, high‐quality concert experiences. Established as Austria’s smallest opera and concert theater, performances in the KRYPTA captivate audiences with their intensity, quality, and unique acoustics.
The Krypta maintains a pleasant temperature year‐round.
Program
Aria
Variatio 1. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 2. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 3. Canone all’ Unisono. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 4. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 5. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.
Variatio 6. Canone alla Seconda. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 7. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav. (al tempo di Giga)
Variatio 8. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 9. Canone alla Terza,. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 10. Fugetta. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 11. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 12. Canone alla Quarta. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 13. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 14. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 15. Canone alla Quinta. a 1 Clav. (andante)
Variatio 16. Ouverture. a 1 Clav.
Varia‐tio 17. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 18. Canone alla Sexta. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 19. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 20. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 21. Canone alla Settima. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 22. a 1 Clav. (alla breve)
Variatio 23. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 24. Canone all’ Ottava. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 25. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 26. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 27. Canone alla Nona. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 28. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 29. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.
Variatio 30. Quodlibet. a 1 Clav.
Aria
Practical Information
The crypt is pleasantly tempered at any time of year.
Artists
| Piano: | Stefan Donner |
|---|
Peterskirche
The Peterskirche (St Peter’s Church) is the second-oldest church in Vienna, founded around 800AD, if legend is to be believed. The present church was built in 1732 in the Baroque style, with Vienna's first baroque dome. Inspired by St Peter's Basilica in Rome, the interior is adorned with frescoes, sculptures, golden altarpieces and carved wood. Peterskirche is one of Vienna's busiest classical music venues, featuring a diverse program that includes daily organ concerts, operas, choral concerts and performances by prominent local and international artists. In addition to performances in the elegant main sanctuary, the Peterskirche also hosts concerts in the fascinating and intimate crypt below ground level.
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
Peterskirche, Petersplatz, Vienna, Austria — Google Maps
