"Gentlemen, Old Bach is here!": "Out of Conflict...the Peace" at St George's Hanover Square, London on Wednesday 31st October 2018

Please note: This concert is in the past and has already taken place.

"Gentlemen, Old Bach is here!"

"Out of Conflict...the Peace"

Part of the London Bach Society 2018 Bachfest Festival

Add to my Calendar 31-10-2018 20:00 31-10-2018 22:00 36 "Gentlemen, Old Bach is here!" Bach’s historic visit to Frederick the Great at Potsdam in 1747 was probably planned to take place much earlier, but was discouraged while the Prussian King was in war mode. The musical King was known to admire Bach, but Bach's employers, the Leipzig city council, would have frowned upon such a prominent citizen travelling to Potsdam in the threatening atmosphere that prevailed.  Leipzig was occupied by Frederick’s troops for a period of one month from December 1745 until early 1746 when a Peace was agreed, and the troops withdrawn. The occupation was known as the Siege of Leipzig. The aftermath of Wars throughout history requires long-term diplomacy to heal wounds, reconcile and build peaceful inter-state relationships. By 1747, the time seemed ripe for Bach to make, what is regarded now and probably was then, a very significant journey to Potsdam and his arrival at the Court prompted the King to ‘put down his flute’ and welcome his visitor with the remarks “Gentlemen, Old Bach is here!” In short, and as a consequence of this visit, Bach, the envoy of peace, produced ‘The Musical Offering’, the story of which we shall tell on opening night. St George's Hanover Square, London DD/MM/YYYY

Details

St George's Hanover Square
Mill Street
Mayfair
London
W1S 1FX
England

Wednesday 31st October 2018
8:00 PM

Programme

Johann Sebastian Bach – Musical Offering, BWV 1079

Performers

Rodolfo Richter – director / baroque violin

Steinitz Bach Players

Other concerts in this Series (+)

Programme Note

Bach’s historic visit to Frederick the Great at Potsdam in 1747 was probably planned to take place much earlier, but was discouraged while the Prussian King was in war mode. The musical King was known to admire Bach, but Bach's employers, the Leipzig city council, would have frowned upon such a prominent citizen travelling to Potsdam in the threatening atmosphere that prevailed. Leipzig was occupied by Frederick’s troops for a period of one month from December 1745 until early 1746 when a Peace was agreed, and the troops withdrawn. The occupation was known as the Siege of Leipzig. The aftermath of Wars throughout history requires long-term diplomacy to heal wounds, reconcile and build peaceful inter-state relationships. By 1747, the time seemed ripe for Bach to make, what is regarded now and probably was then, a very significant journey to Potsdam and his arrival at the Court prompted the King to ‘put down his flute’ and welcome his visitor with the remarks “Gentlemen, Old Bach is here!” In short, and as a consequence of this visit, Bach, the envoy of peace, produced ‘The Musical Offering’, the story of which we shall tell on opening night.

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