The Divine Friendship of Bach's Cantata 139

Published November 3, 2024 at 6:00 AM EST

chorus and orchestra of Bach Collegium Japan on a concert stage — Bach Collegium Japan

On The Bach Hour, Masaaki Suzuki leads music rooted in a warm and inviting divine presence, and Seiji Ozawa conducts the Boston Symphony in an extroverted orchestration of the composer's "St. Anne" Prelude and Fugue.

On the program:

Aria and Menuet from French Suite No. 2 in C minor, BWV 813 (trans. Frederick Neumann) - Renaud Capuçon, violin; Gautier Capuçon, cello

Cantata BWV 139, Wohl dem, der sich auf seinen Gott (translation) - Yukari Nonoshita, soprano; Robin Blaze, counter-tenor; Makoto Sakurada, tenor; Peter Kooij, bass; Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki, conductor

Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041 - Renaud Capuçon, violin; Chamber Orchestra of Europe

Prelude and Fugue in E-flat, BWV 552 St. Anne (arr. Schoenberg) - Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa, conductor