Bach / Beethoven (Euro Arts)

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With this recording, Herbert Blomstedt pays homage to Bach and the city of Leipzig. One part of the Blu-ray Disc was recorded in 2005 at the Leipzig Bach Festival, which is widely regarded as the world’s leading festival celebrating Johann Sebastian Bach.

This concert of Bach’s masterwork, written at the end of his tenure as the 18th Gewandhauskapellmeister did not really mark the end of Blomstedt’s fruitful collaboration with the traditional orchestra. The Swedish conductor will continue to act as an honorary musical director to the ensemble. Performed with leading Bach singers at St. Thomas’ Church, Leipzig, the church for which Bach conceived his works, this homage to Bach was a touching farewell to Herbert Blomstedt from his Leipzig audience. J.S. Bach's Mass in B minor is one of the greatest and most famous works of sacred music.

The other part of the Blu-ray Disc was recorded at the 9th October Memorial Concert of the Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Thomanerchores. These began with the "Monday demonstration" of 9 October 1989, just one month before the fall of the Berlin wall.

01. Johann Sebastian Bach: Toccata & Fugue in D minor, BWV565
02. Johann Sebastian Bach: Motet BWV228 'Fürchte dich nicht'
03. Johann Sebastian Bach: Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV1004: Chaconne
04. Johann Sebastian Bach: Mass in B minor, BWV232
05. Johann Sebastian Bach: Mass in B minor, BWV232: Dona
06. Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
07. Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Elias Op. 70: Hore Israel (aria), Fürchte Dich Nicht (chorus)