This year, the OPUS 71 choir invites you to meet three composers who built their careers in Germany and contributed, through their immense talent, to the greatness of European baroque music, from the beginning of the 17th century to the middle of the 18th century.

Let us first stop at Dietrich BUXTEHUDE (1637-1707), the Master of Lübeck. Composer
prolific and inventive composer, organist renowned throughout Northern Europe, and a virtuoso of improvisation, he attracted
He attracted many musicians to Lübeck who wanted to hear him play and follow his teachings.
This was also the case in 1705, when a young 20-year-old organist, Johann Sebastian Bach, crossed Germany on foot to meet him.
This was to be the shock of his life, a dazzling breakthrough...

We find Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) in 1718 in Köthen, then in 1731 in Leipzig, where he now holds the
where he now holds the prestigious post of Cantor. His work is monumental, essentially to the
his God, his faith and his technique are immense. So when his compositions express joy or sorrow
joy or sorrow, joy or pain, his new 'melodies' are always filled with a deep sincerity and serenity.
sincerity and absolute serenity.

The next step is unexpected, as it is an invitation to look beyond the mountains, towards
Italy, the cradle of the Baroque. The musicians transport us to Venice in the 1700s,
Alessandro MARCELLO (1673-1747), philosopher, mathematician and composer, whose oboe concerto Bach loved so much
Bach liked his concerto for oboe and strings so much that he composed a transcription for organ.

We end our walk in Dresden, in 1738, with the Czech Jan Dismas ZELENKA (1679-
1745). He was a musician and composer of sacred music at the Catholic Court of Dresden, one of the most
in Europe. His instrumental and vocal works are as abundant as they are passionate, very expressive and
expressive and colourful, his art of counterpoint and his technique are undisputed, without preventing
inventive melodies and sometimes surprising harmonies.

Programme :
- D. BUXTEHUDE: cantata "der Herr ist mit mir" which ends with a famous "alleluia" in the form of a chaconne with an obstinate bass
in the form of a chaconne with an obstinate bass.
- J-S. BACH: Cantata 140, known as the "watchman's cantata" and Cantata 202, a secular cantata for a wedding.
wedding.
- A. MARCELLO: Concerto for oboe and strings in D minor.
- JD. ZELENKA : " Miserere in C minor " ZWV 57, rich in surprises.

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