The Last Laugh
Donald Macleod follows the trail of Johann Sebastian Bach as he makes his way in the world. Today, Bach鈥檚 late years see his patience and pride tested.
Johann Sebastian Bach is a towering cultural icon, a composer who might be seen as the poster boy for 鈥渟erious music鈥� and spent most of his career in the service of the church. But he played many roles in the course of his life, and could be funny, sassy, conniving, obstinate, and rebellious. This week, along with the 鈥渨orldly鈥� Bach, we鈥檒l get to know his secular music鈥� and follow his trail as he makes his way in the world, from courts to coffee houses, building a family, two-timing his bosses, and even a stint behind bars.
Today, in Bach鈥檚 latter years in Leipzig, he finds himself under critical attack and responds with a monumental change of direction. We鈥檒l see his patience and his pride tested, in a series of events that reveal two important sides of his character: his determination and his wit.
鈥淧easant鈥� Cantata 鈥� Mer hahn ein neue Oberkeet, BWV212: 鈥淲ir gehn nun wo der Dudelsak鈥�
Emma Kirkby, soprano
David Thomas, bass
Academy of Ancient Music
Christopher Hogwood, conductor
Double Violin Concerto, BWV1043 (2nd movement)
Arabella Steinbacher, violin
Christoph Koncz, violin
Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra
Orchestral Suite No 3, BWV1068 (iii. Gavotte to v. Gigue)
Freiburg Baroque Orchestra
Goldberg Variations, BWV988 (Aria and Variations 1-5)
V铆kingur 脫lafsson, piano
Musical Offering, BWV1079: Ricercar a 6
Phantasm
The Contest Between Phoebus and Pan, BWV201 (鈥淧an ist Meister鈥濃��.end)
Roman Trenkel, bass (Phoebus)
Peter Lika, baritone (Pan)
Andreas Scholl, countertenor (Mercurius)
Maria Christina Kiehr, soprano (Momus)
Kurt Azesberger, tenor (Midas)
Akademie f眉r Alte Musik Berlin
Ren茅 Jacobs, conductor
Produced by Amelia Parker for 蜜芽传媒 Audio Wales and West
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- Fri 17 Oct 2025 16:00蜜芽传媒 Radio 3
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