J.S. Bach Mäkelä

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) wrote the first part of what was going to be his Mass in B-Minor in 1733 and completed the Mass in 1749, just one year before his death. He never heard the work himself, and almost a century passed before the mass was performed in its entirety – in Leipzig in 1859.

Bach is often named as “the best composer of all time” and in Mass in B-Minor he dazzles the listener, whether the part is for a vocal soloist, solo instrument, smaller ensemble, choir or orchestra. His Mass is considered to be a synthesis of his whole composing life and one of his – and music’s – greatest masterpieces.

(Translation from Norwegian: Sarah Osa)