The work remains a mystery to this day. Why did Bach, a Protestant, write this great Catholic mass towards the end of his life and thus leave a kind of compositional legacy? Hans-Christoph Rademann, director of the Gaechinger Cantorei, has long been concerned with this pinnacle of vocal art, with the question of the reason for its composition, but also with the fractures that result from its enormous stylistic range. It is all the more astonishing, almost incomprehensible, that such a great whole should emerge from it," marvels the conductor and Bach expert in view of the work's heterogeneous individual parts. For the director of the Stuttgart Original Sound Ensemble, this combination of contrasting elements has a strong symbolic power: "It is a global work, and the ending with the prayer for peace is particularly topical. We need that today.

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J. S. Bach, H-moll-messe

Alte Oper

Numerous traditions from past eras provide us with detailed information about how composers of the past centuries lived and worked, and even the inks they used for their compositions. However, how these compositions actually sounded in their time remains only a matter of conjecture; until the invention of the first functional phonograph in 1888, there was no way to permanently record sounds for posterity. Historically informed performance practice, and the Gaechinger Cantorey as a select specialist, are dedicated to the endeavor of getting as close as possible to the presumed reality of sound. Since 2016, a renowned ensemble has been formed under this name, aiming to bring Baroque masterpieces to the stage in an authentic way. Unique accompaniments to this process are two replicas of original instruments from the Baroque period – a harpsichord and a chest organ, which were specially made for the ensemble and will also be performed in Wolfegg. In the atmosphere of the equally baroque Knight's Hall, the Gaechinger Cantorey sensitively recreates the sounds of the 17th century.

Baroque Masterpieces

Knights' Hall

Even musicians later considered geniuses had to apply officially for a position. This was the case for Johann Sebastian Bach, who in 1723 received confirmation of his long-awaited position as Thomaskantor in Leipzig. The following 27 years of his artistic career were henceforth characterized by service to the church, in particular the composition of cantatas for Sunday services. Around 200 of these multi-movement works for vocals and instrumental accompaniment by Bach have survived. These works—embedded in Christian doctrine—tell of central human experiences. The personal path from suffering to heavenly redemption—or, in universal terms, that life is not just a leisurely stroll—is the subject of the two cantatas presented by the Gaechinger Cantorey in Ludwigsburg's Schlosskirche. As an internationally renowned period ensemble, the ensemble impressively demonstrates the high artistry with which Bach traces the human journey to the "place of longing, heaven" in a timeless and still moving musical language.

Gächinger Kantorei

Mar 27, 2026

J. S. Bach, H-moll-messe

Sep 13, 2025

Baroque Masterpieces

Gächinger Kantorei