The mysterious, unfinished work of Johann Sebastian Bach meets one of the most interesting Italian early music ensembles. Wratislavia Cantans invites you to a unique performance of Die Kunst der Fuge. In the lead role: Accademia Bizantina under the baton of Ottavio Dantone.
Johann Sebastian Bach made history not only as a great organist and creator of the compositions worshiped by devoted fans even today. The artist has been exploring the secrets of the art of music composition for many years. Bach's perfectionism resulted in the extraordinary collection of Die Kunst der Fuge (The Art of Fugue), which culminated Bach’s research into counterpoint, the most difficult composing technique of his time. Although it is believed that Bach started to work on Die Kunst der Fuge a year before his death, today we know of a manuscript of a version of this piece from seven years earlier. However, the composer repeatedly made changes to the collection. In the end, he failed to finish the last fugue, where the names of the first four tones in the leading melody make up his own name (B-A-C-H). This musical signature of the master later became an inspiration for many composers.
Due to the characteristics of the performative practice of the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as the fact that Bach left no suggestion as to what instruments the composition was composed for, Die Kunst der Fuge is now performed in a variety of arrangements. During the 52nd International Festival Wratislavia Cantans, Accademia Bizantina will present this remarkable composition by Bach. The Italian early music ensemble was founded thirty-four years ago with the idea to “play music like a grand quartet”, resulting in its consistent and uniform sound. Musicians draw from the best traditions of Italian chamber music. Thanks to the cooperation with outstanding musicologists, their performative practice is always rooted in thorough historical research. Bach's Die Kunst der Fuge is one of the latest projects by the widely acclaimed Italian conductor Ottavio Dantone.
