The Bachs

Portrait of a Musical Family

The history of European music is shaped by families in which the musical craft was passed down from generation to generation, giving rise to traditions of remarkable richness. While dynasties such as the Gabrieli and the Couperin exerted considerable influence within their respective musical circles, no family is as emblematic as the Bachs, whose legacy spans several generations of composers who played a distinctive role in the musical life of the eighteenth century and its transformations.

This program highlights the connections and contrasts between the works of Johann Bernhard, Wilhelm Friedemann, Johann Sebastian, and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. Through their distinctive musical languages and sensibilities, it explores both the threads that link their respective oeuvres and the aesthetic differences that set each composer apart. From contrapuntal elegance and rhythmic vitality to the expressive intensity and striking contrasts characteristic of an emerging musical sensibility, their works reveal a tradition in constant evolution.