In the aria 'Schlummert ein' from BWV 82, Bach uses subtle modulations to distant keys to represent the transition between this world and the afterlife.
Composition History
The operatic virtuosity in BWV 51 suggests it may have been composed for a guest appearance by the Bach couple at a neighboring court, rather than for regular Leipzig church music.
Performer Biography
The Capricornus Consort Basel, founded in 2006, specializes in rare Baroque and High Baroque works and has received awards like the Diapason d'Or and Opus Klassik for its recordings.
Composer Biography
J. S. Bach's wife, Anna Magdalena Wilcke, was a court cantatrice and an 'excellent soprano' who sang for him in Köthen and later bore him 13 children.
Composition History
The cantata BWV 84 was likely composed for one of the 'spared' boy trebles who were exempted from the demanding 'New Year's Singing' tradition in Leipzig.
Performer Biography
Miriam Feuersinger, an Austrian soprano and Echo Klassik award winner, is known for her love of J. S. Bach's cantatas and passion works.
Historical Context
During Bach's time as Thomaskantor in Leipzig (1723-1750), all musical personnel for church music had to be male, meaning soprano parts were sung by boys aged 13-18.
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