Ars Antiqua Concert

Through the music of Johann Sebastian Bach’s sons, we are given a glimpse into two very different musical worlds. In Berlin, the brooding and introspective music of Carl Philipp Emanuel was perfectly suited for the intimate private concerts given by his patron, Frederick the Great. Johann Christian, on the other hand, was a cosmopolite who composed wonderfully effervescent music for London’s concert halls and opera houses. The lives of the two brothers tell a musical story full of fascinating connections with Europe’s cultural elite. Carl Philipp Emanuel, immersed in the musical life of Berlin, worked alongside his mentor, Graun. In London, Johann Christian began England’s first subscription concerts with Abel, and was close friends with Mozart and Gainsborough. The ‘London Bach’ and the ‘Berlin Bach’ could not have been more different. Following their own paths, they created a diverse repertory, each with their own unique perspective and style.