It is impossible to overstate the importance of Bach’s 200 cantatas, described by Stravinsky as ‘the centre of our European repertoire’. Amazingly, most of these masterpieces were performed only once during Bach’s lifetime. Some of Bach’s favourites, however, were performed several times, such as his great Easter Cantata ‘Himmelskönig, sei willkommen’.

The cantatas are here juxtaposed with two of his most beloved orchestral works, the sublime D minor Concerto for two violins and the fiery Fourth Brandenburg Concerto.