Chorale Inspirations
The present day can be insufferable, but there is a solution. We can immerse ourselves in the aesthetic and spirituality of past centuries, such as the universe painstakingly created by artists specialising in historical performances. Organised by the Academy of Music in Kraków, the Bach Days are an invitation to discover German Baroque. The 22nd festival explores the inspirations of Lutheran chorales which were a formative experience in Johann Sebastian’s artistic path.
We will hear the results on consecutive evenings: on 16 March with the Early Music Ensemble Perfugium and Mateusz Kowalski (viola da gamba), on 17 March with the soprano Ewa Leszczyńska and a large group of instrumentalists, and on 18 March with the concert Chorale Inspirations featuring Magda Niedbała-Solarz (mezzosoprano), Karolina Koślacz (viola da gamba) and Jerzy Żak (lute). The project culminates with the presentation of three cantatas by Bach performed by the Baroque Orchestra of the Academy of Music in Kraków under the baton of Marek Toporowski. Since the Baroque was an era of diversity and powerful contrasts, there will also be recitals and solo performances far from Protestant austerity (feat. Sirkka-Liisa Kaakinen-Pilch on violin).
Igor Kuranda, Karnet magazine
13 March 2017, 7pm
Krzysztof Firlus – viola da gamba
Marek Toporowski – harpsichord
Agata Habera, Aleksandra Owczarek – violin
Adrianna Kafel – cello
Rafał Gorczyński – double bass
In programme: J.S. Bach, G. Finger, J. Richmann, J.G. Walther, J. Schenck, C. Podbielski, J. Pfeiffer
14 March 2017, 7pm
Students of the Early Music Department of the Academy of Music in Kraków
In programme: J.S. Bach, G. Muffat, H.I.F. von Biber, G.P. Telemann, W.F. Bach, J.G. Pisendel
15 March 2017, 7pm
Aleksander Mocek – harpsichord
In programme: 7 harpsichord toccattas by J.S. Bach
16 March 2017, 7pm, St Martin's Church
Lobbe den Herren – Praise the Lord
Mateusz Kowalski – viola da gamba
Perfugium Early Music Ensemble
In programme: Lutheran chorales and their arrangements for lyra viol
17 March 2017, 7pm
Ewa Leszczyńska – soprano
Monika Boroni – violin
Agata Habera – violin
Anna Wieczorek – viola
Katarzyna Cichoń – cello
Łukasz Madej – violone
Katarzyna Pilipiuk – oboe
Andrzej Zawisza – harpsichord, organ
In programme: J.S. Bach Prelude in B minor BWV 923, English Suite no. 5 in E minor BWV 810, Fugue in A minor BWV 947, Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue BWV 903, Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut BWV 199, Alles mit Gott, und nichts so ihn BWV 1127
18 March 2017, 7pm
Chorale Inspirations
Magda Niedbała-Solarz – mezzo-soprano
Karolina Koślacz – viola da gamba
Jerzy Żak – lute
In programme: J.Ch. Bach, J.S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, A. Kühnel, G.C. Schemelli, A. Falckenhagen
19 March 2017
noon, Matinée
Sirkka-Liisa Kaakinen-Pilch – viola d’amore, violin
In programme: J.S. Bach Partita BWV 1013, Suite BWV 995, J.P. Westhoff Suite no. 2 in F minor
6pm, Closing Concert
Katarzyna Pilipiuk – oboe
Jakub Kulawik – trumpet
Andrea Molnar, Joanna Szlachcic – flutes
soloists prepared by Andrzej Zawisza
Baroque Orchestra of the Academy of Music in Kraków
Marek Toporowski – conductor
In programme: J.S. Bach Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis BWV 21, Komm, du süsse Todesstunde BWV 161, Wachet, betet BWV 70
All concerts except on 16 March take place at the Florianka Recital Hall
