Bach: Arias for Alto

Description

It was when he obtained the post of cantor at the Thomaskirche that J.S. Bach devoted himself to building one of his most ambitious works: composing an original work for the entire liturgical year. Between 1723 and 1726, he delivered one cantata per Sunday. True laboratories of musical creation, these cantatas were lent by the composer various vocal and instrumental ensembles. Within this repertoire, the alto voice takes on a particular connotation, sometimes dolorous, sometimes fervent, and Bach offers it some of his most beautiful arias. Christophe Rousset and countertenor Zoltan Darago explore this repertoire in a program mainly drawn from the prolific early Leipzig years, which give pride of place to concertante parts, allowing us to hear the sublime dialogues between violin, oboe d'amore or organ and voice.