The impressive masterpiece that leads to Bach

For over a decade, Raphaël Pichon and his ensemble Pygmalion have been a fixture at the Muziekgebouw, guaranteeing not-to-miss performances. ‘Applause has rarely been so well-deserved,’ wrote Trouw, awarding five stars to Pygmalion’s magnificent programme Welt Gute Nacht, performed at the Muziekgebouw in 2026. Now, the ever-surprising ensemble returns with another impressive masterpiece: Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu nostri.
  
Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu nostri is a cycle of seven deeply emotional cantatas. Each cantata addresses a part of Jesus’ crucified body. Buxtehude was a legend in his day, so much so that the young Bach risked his position in Arnstadt to undertake a long journey on foot to visit him in Lübeck. Now, Pygmalion shows us, in their own inimitable style, exactly whose shoulders Bach has stood on ever since.