Magnificat — Nederlandse Bachvereniging
Lineup
About the Event
Christmas with the Bach family
In the lead-up to Christmas, the Netherlands Bach Society takes you from darkness to light. Johann Sebastian Bach’s radiant Magnificat is performed alongside Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s Magnificat. Two magnificent Christmas works by father and son. This programme, conducted by artistic director Johanna Soller, unfolds from the smallest musical core: the monophonic Gregorian Ave Maris Stella. The sombre atmosphere of this hymn transitions into the Sinfonia in D minor by Bach’s eldest son, Wilhelm Friedemann. A talented composer, but less well known than his father and brother.
How different was the fate of Carl Philipp Emanuel, the most successful of all Bach’s children, who was known as ‘the great Bach’ in the second half of the 18th century. The Magnificat, his first major vocal work, breathes the spirit of his father’s Magnificat and Hohe Messe. It simultaneously offers a glimpse into the future, foreshadowing the works of Mozart, Beethoven and Haydn.
Christmas 2026
Explore all the Christmas concerts by clicking here and listen to the playlist below ⬇️