Bach, the Universe and Everything: We Will Explore
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
| JS Bach | Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden, (Stay with us, for evening falls), BWV 6 |
|---|---|
| Richard Dering | Ave verum corpus |
| Steven Devine | series music director |
|---|---|
| Libby Jackson | guest speaker |
| Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment |
The road stretches into darkness. This month, Bach, the Universe and Everything explores hope in the face of doubt and the remarkable drive of humans to journey beyond our earthly limits. Inspired by the music of the composer and intergalactic genius, the annual series takes audiences on a cosmic adventure in which music meets astronomy. Expect awe, beauty and big ideas.
Like a lost scene torn from one of Bach’s great Passions, the opening of Bleib bei uns plunges us into the heart of the circle of disciples on Easter Monday. First heard on the same weekend as the revived St John Passion in 1725, it moves from an exquisite aria for alto accompanied by cor anglais through a breathtaking solo for piccolo cello, to a melancholic tenor aria where hope and doubt exist side by side.
On 6 April 2026, Artemis II carried humans farther from Earth than ever before, as its crew of four astronauts completed a historic lunar flyby. Libby Jackson explores our urge to go further into the unknown and what the landmark mission means for the future of space travel. She is Head of Space at the Science Museum, former UK Space Agency spokesperson for Tim Peake’s mission to the International Space Station and the author of A Galaxy of Her Own.
This season also features motets by the English composer Richard Dering (c. 1580–1630). A Catholic convert, he spent much of his career working in continental Europe before returning to England in 1625 to serve in the court of Queen Henrietta Maria. Dering’s music bridged the Renaissance and Baroque styles.
This event will last approximately 75 minutes, with no interval.
Concessions & Under 30s tickets
Kings Place Concessions Tickets
We want to ensure that people who may be struggling financially to purchase a ticket can still enjoy visiting Kings Place. A limited number of tickets are allocated for certain events (if the ticket type does not show in the booking pathway, it means they are not available for this event or have all been sold). Concessions tickets are accessible for people on the following criteria (for more information visit our FAQs)
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Disability Benefit
- Income Support or Job Seekers allowance
- Students
£10 ‘Under 30s’ tickets
A limited number of £10 tickets are available for certain shows to attendees aged under 30. To access Under 30s tickets, your account needs to be updated with your Date of Birth. Please visit the account centre to add your Date of Birth and go to ‘Other Preferences’ to opt in to the Under 30s Scheme.
If £10 tickets are available, the ticket discount will apply automatically at checkout. If the discount does not apply, this means all ‘Under 30s’ tickets have sold out for the performance.
Please note that proof of age may be requested at the venue.
Plan your visit
Getting here
Kings Place is situated just a few minutes’ walk from King’s Cross and St Pancras stations, one of the most connected locations in London and now the biggest transport hub in Europe.
Our address is:
90 York Way, London, N1 9AG.
The Venue
Our performance spaces are situated on the lower ground floor. Hall One, Hall Two and St Pancras are located in level -2, reached by stairs, escalator and lift from the ground floor entrance level.
Event Times
Door times indicate auditorium entrance times only. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the Kings Place seating areas, gallery-level art, canal-side terrace, café, restaurant and bar throughout the day and evening.
- Our events begin promptly at the advertised start time. Typically, there is no support unless otherwise stated.
- We recommend arriving in good time before the performance. The Hall doors will open 30 minutes before the performance to allow time to take your seats, or to choose a space for standing shows.
- Latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance where possible
Access
We aim to make your visit to Kings Place as comfortable as possible. For more information about the accessibility of Kings Place, including details about our Access Scheme, please visit this page.
If you would like to discuss your access requirements with a member of our team, please get in touch with the Box Office team at info@kingsplace.co.uk.
Food & Drink
Rotunda Bar & Restaurant
Rotunda, situated on the ground floor of Kings Place, offers a unique dining and drinking experience alongside Regent’s Canal. The concert bar in the venue foyer will also be open for select events.
Green & Fortune Café
Recently re-furbished and now open with a new look, the Green & Fortune Café is open for selected concerts. Serving hot and cold food and drinks, including sandwiches, salads, soup, stew and a pie of the day, alongside a choice of cakes made by the on-site bakery team. See here for selected concert dates and standard opening hours.