Dorchester Arts: Dorset

—   C O N C E R T S   —

Thursday 20th April 2023, 7:00 pm

St Mary’s Church, Dorchester

Music from the Bach family, with Rachel Podger (violin)

 

Sumptuous choral music and virtuosic solo violin combine in a beautiful setting to showcase the incredible musicality of the extensive Bach family. This concert offers a rare opportunity to hear world-renowned violinist Rachel Podger (frequently heard on BBC Radio 3 and across the world) perform a complete Partita and Sonata by J. S. Bach, widely regarded as the greatest music ever written for solo violin.

“There is probably no more inspirational musician working today than Podger”
Gramophone Magazine

Taking full advantage of the glorious acoustic of St. Mary’s Church, Dorchester, Rachel Podger (the globally-recognised interpreter of music from the late Baroque era) performs two of Bach’s greatest works for solo violin. Both the Sonata No. 1 and Partita No. 3 showcase Bach’s masterful writing for the violin, with meticulously-constructed lines carving out soaring melodies and eloquent harmonies.

These spellbinding performances are each bookended with beautiful choral music by J. S. Bach and other members of his highly-musical family, sung by the sixteen voices of the Corvus Consort, directed by Freddie Crowley. Featuring J. S. Bach’s most famous choral motet Jesu, meine Freude, a long-standing favourite with audiences worldwide, the programme also includes lesser-known works by his brilliantly-talented older cousins Johann Michael and Johann Christoph, including the heartrendingly beautiful Herr, ich warte auf dein Heil.

 

more about Dorchester Arts

… watch a sneak preview of Rachel Podger performing Bach’s solo violin music at Wigmore Hall …