Bach Collegium Japan, founded by Masaaki Suzuki in 1990, has become one of the world’s most admired ensembles for historically informed performances of J.S. Bach’s works. Celebrating its 35th anniversary, the ensemble makes its long-awaited Shanghai debut with a program featuring the Orchestral Suite No. 3, the Concerto for 2 Violins, and the witty secular cantata Phoebus and Pan. This special concert offers audiences a chance to experience the brilliance, depth, and variety of Bach’s music performed with authenticity and passion.

Program

• J.S. Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068
  A quintessential Baroque work, opening with a majestic overture and followed by the celebrated “Air on the G String.” Strings and winds interact with elegance, while lively dance movements lift the listener’s spirit.
• J.S. Bach: Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, BWV 1043
  One of Bach’s most exhilarating concertos, featuring intricate counterpoint and a brilliant dialogue between two violinists. The first movement is lively and playful, the second poetic, and the third an ecstatic finale demanding both technical skill and expressive depth.
• Intermission
• J.S. Bach: Der Streit zwischen Phoebus und Pan, BWV 201
  A secular cantata full of wit and humor, depicting a musical contest between the shepherd god Pan and the sun god Phoebus. Through a variety of arias and choruses, Bach blends narrative and musical charm, giving audiences a taste of his inventive and theatrical style.

Masaaki Suzuki – Music Director

Since founding Bach Collegium Japan in 1990, Masaaki Suzuki has established himself as a leading authority on the works of J.S. Bach. He has guided the ensemble with unparalleled expertise, performing regularly at major venues and festivals across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Suzuki’s recordings of Bach’s complete sacred and secular cantatas, as well as harpsichord and choral works on the BIS label, have received worldwide critical acclaim, including Gramophone Awards, the BBC Music Magazine Award, and the Leipzig Bach Medal.

Bach Collegium Japan

Bach Collegium Japan brings together early music specialists from around the world, performing Bach’s music on period instruments with meticulous attention to historical detail. The ensemble has built a formidable international reputation through its acclaimed recordings and performances, celebrating both sacred and secular works. Their interpretations are known for their clarity, emotional depth, and fidelity to the spirit of the Baroque era.

This concert offers Shanghai audiences the chance to experience the richness, elegance, and wit of Bach’s music, performed with the expertise and artistry that have earned Bach Collegium Japan a revered international reputation.