Mozart, Haydn & Bach

Bach as the basis

Bach as the basis Bach as the basis

The background

Bach as the basis

With the Bach Society orchestra, Shunske Sato delves into the incredible diversity of the ‘classical’ symphony, just before it matured with Beethoven.

The symphonic reunion of four composers.“

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart studied counterpoint – albeit only in spirit – with the very best: Johann Sebastian Bach. He discovered Bach’s Wohltemperirte Clavier at the Sunday salons of Baron van Swieten, and arranged parts of it for string quartet. His other great master was fortunately still alive and even became a good friend: Joseph Haydn, a pioneer of the modern symphony. Vanhal started his symphonic oeuvre in thoroughly Baroque fashion, but gradually came to embrace the Sturm und Drang. And in his own way, Dittersdorf, too, managed to keep up with the difficult to predict tastes of the demanding Viennese audiences. Incidentally, the four gentlemen are said to have once formed a string quartet, with Haydn and Dittersdorf on violin, Mozart on viola and Vanhal on cello. Brace yourself for their symphonic reunion tour!

The concert

Works and Performance

Works

JOHANN BAPTIST VANHAL
Symphony in D minor

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART/JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
Fugue in D minor, KV 405/4

JOSEPH HAYDN
Symphony in D major, ‘Le Matin’

KARL DITTERS VON DITTERSDORF
‘Menuetto’ from quartet in E-flat major

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
Symphony no. 40 in G minor, KV 550

Performers

Netherlands Bach Society
conducted by Shunske Sato

Experience more

View this work on All of Bach

The Well-Tempered Clavier I No. 6 in D minor

harpsichord works, BWV 851

Canzona in D minor

organ works, BWV 588