Bach Akademie Australia Grazie in Grazia – Chatswood

Bach Akademie Australia closes its 2022 season with Grazie in Grazia, two concerts dedicated to thanksgiving. Traversing a path from Italy to Germany the program features music by Monteverdi, Marini, Merula, Gabrieli, Schütz and of course, the inspiration for this ensemble, J S Bach.

As audiences return to the concert halls after a profoundly challenging two years, BAA and its redoubtable Artistic Director, violin virtuoso Madeleine Easton, present Grazie in Grazia, two November concerts in Chatswood and in the city, dedicated to the spirit of thanksgiving. “All of us have been through indescribable hardships over the last two years,” says Madeleine, “for each of us different but no less profound. Upon reflection, it is clear that being grateful for what we have here and now, has helped sustain us through the pandemic.”

It is in this spirit that BAA presents Claudio Monteverdi’s Mass of Thanksgiving, written in gratitude after the great plague of 1631. Also featured is Monteverdi’s celebrated student Heinrich Schütz whose life was also deeply affected by plague and war, and who became one of J.S. Bach’s greatest inspirations and mentors. The powerful climax is Bach’s greatest and most joyful Christmas cantata Christen, ätzet diesen Tag BWV 63, remembering that – in Madeleine’s words “After all is said and done – it is joy that music brings us. And there’s none better than J.S. Bach to take us out of the darkness and into the light.”

Part 1 of the program begins in Italy with Monteverdi, interposed with works by other titans of the Venetian Renaissance, Marini and Gabrieli. Part 2 takes us on a journey to Germany through the music of Heinrich Schütz, Monteverdi’s great pupil and teacher of J.S. Bach. Then Bach’s joyous Christmas cantata.

Grazie in Grazia features a large orchestra and choir, with notable soloists including Susannah Lawergren, Hannah Fraser, Richard Butler and Andrew O’Connor.

Read our review the BAA’s last concert In Bach’s Orbit.

Tickets: from $50 (concessions available)
Bookings: www.bachakademieaustralia.com.au 1300 785 377

Sydney concert on Monday 14 November, 7 pm, City Recital Hall.

The program:

PART I: ITALIA
Monteverdi Messa a quattro voci da cappella ‘Selva morale e spirituale’: Introitus Chant | Kyrie | Gloria
Marini Per ogni sorte di strumenti musicale, Op. 22: Passacaglio | Credo
Merula Canzoni da suonare, Book 4, Op. 17: Canzon decima settima, ‘La Monteverde’ Sanctus | Benedictus
Gabrieli Canzona due a quattro 1608: Agnus Dei
Monteverdi Cantate Domino

— Interval —

PART II: GERMANY
Heinrich Schütz Alleluja! Lobet den Herren
J.S. Bach Cantata ‘Christen, ätzet diesen Tag‘ BWV 63