Bach/Pärt: Eternal Beauty

This performance explores the aesthetic links between the Baroque counterpoint of Johann Sebastian Bach and the contemporary sacred music of Arvo Pärt. You will hear the Academy of Ancient Music navigate two distinct sound worlds that share a common focus on clarity and devotion. The evening begins with the instrumental textures of Fratres before moving into the vocal complexity of Bach’s Cantata BWV 4. As you listen, you may notice the contrast between the rhythmic vitality of Bach’s motet Singet dem Herrn and the stillness inherent in Pärt’s Missa Syllabica. The selection of works, which includes L’Abbé Agathon and Veni Creator, is curated to highlight how both composers use repetition and structure to create a sense of focus. The programme concludes with the intricate layering of voices in the Bach motet, providing a spirited end to a sequence that balances the antique with the modern. We suggest listening for the way the ensemble adapts its period performance techniques to suit the minimalist requirements of the newer pieces.

The Academy of Ancient Music is a period-instrument ensemble based in the United Kingdom, renowned for using historical techniques to bring a sense of freshness to their repertoire. While they are celebrated worldwide for their interpretations of the Baroque and Classical eras, they frequently collaborate with contemporary specialists to expand their reach. Joining them is the conductor Tõnu Kaljuste, who is widely regarded as a definitive interpreter of modern choral and orchestral music. Together, they bring a high level of technical precision to both the German Baroque traditions and the specific requirements of twentieth-century sacred scores.

This orchestral and choral concert takes place at Trinity College Chapel in Cambridge. The performance is scheduled to last approximately 120 minutes, which includes the music and likely an interval. Given the two-hour duration and the meditative nature of much of the music, it offers a substantial evening of listening. The venue is a historic college chapel with a resonant acoustic that suits this specific programme well. There is no specific dress code mentioned for the event, though audiences at these chapel concerts usually opt for smart-casual attire. Tickets are available starting from fifteen pounds.