FULL THE BACH STORY Sapporo 2002 Sapporo Chamber Opera
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: The Bach Story
- Composer: Gach Johann Sebastian, arranged by Tomoko Iwakawa
- Libretto: various
- Venue & Opera Company: Sapporo Sun Plaza Hall, NPO Sapporo Chamber Opera, Japan
- Recorded: January 19, 2002
- Type: Concert Semi-staged
- Singers: Masato Noritake, Shinya Asari, Noriko Hagiwara, Akiko Kubota, Chika Watanabe, Goyako Kawagoe, Junko Narita, Kumi Matsuda
- Conductor: Tomoko Iwakawa
- Orchestra:
- Stage Director: Kunihito Nakatsu
- Costume Designer:
- Lighting Designer: Shigeo Yoshida
Information about the Recording
- Published by: NPO Sapporo Chamber Opera
- Date Published: 2002
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 3 Audio:3
- Subtitles: yessubs, jpsubs
- Video Recording from: YouTube FULL VIDEO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
An opera depicting the life of Bach through 41 songs, including works by Bach.
Luther Watches Over Bach Tomoko Iwakawa Chorales occupy an important position in Bach’s vast works. Chorales are German Protestant hymns. The religious reformer Luther sought a way of hymn that would be understandable to all Germans, and created a German translation of the Bible and easy-to-understand hymns that could be sung in German. Bach, who was born 200 years after Luther, left behind a vast number of “chorale pieces” such as cantatas and organ pieces using well-known chorale melodies. People at the time must have been moved to hear the familiar chorale melodies resounding in the church as wonderful music played on the organ or in the choir. Curiously, the town of Eisenach where Bach was born is the town where Luther devoted himself to translating the Bible into German. Bach was baptized in St. George’s Church, where Luther preached. The image of Luther watching over the life of the composer Bach emerged, and the opera “The Story of Bach” was created. It is a little different from the so-called “opera” in style, more like an “oratorio,” and I have woven together fragments of Bach’s life through music. I hope that you will be able to discover the various sides of Bach in this beautiful music.
■Synopsis
Act 1,
Scene 1: Composing a Chorale Germany, about 150 years before
Luterbach was born. Mass is sung from a church. A farmer couple passing by cannot understand the words and music, which are too difficult. Luther thinks about it and composes a prayer song in German that the farmers can understand. The farmers are happy. An angel appears and they all sing aloud praising God.
・Brandenburg Concerto / No. 3, 1st movement: BWV.1048
・Missa De Beata Virgine (Josquin des Prez)
・Veni, Sancte Spiritus (Josquin des Prez)
・Peasant Cantata / BWV.212・Confession of Faith (Luther’s Chorale)
・From Beyond Heaven (Luther’s Chorale) / Hymn 21: No.246
・God Is My Tower (Luther’s Chorale) / Hymn: No.377
Scene 2 / The Young Bach
Born into a family of musicians, Bach sings a hopeful and funny aria. His family were devout Lutheran Christians, and chorales were always playing in their homes. After completing his studies, Bach leaves for his first job in Arnstadt.
・Brandenburg Concerto / No. 3 1st movement: BWV.1048
・Solo Violin Partita / No.3:
BWV.1006・Cantata “Aeolus Satisfied” / BWV.205
・Lord Jesus in my heart (Johan Schopf)
・Capriccio on the departure of my beloved brother / BWV.992
・The Well-Tempered Clavier / Volume 2, No. 12 Prelude
Scene 3: At work
His first job was as a church organist and choir leader. The hot-blooded Bach was annoyed by the low level of the choir and criticized the bassoonist for his poor playing. He also received complaints that his improvisations on the organ during church services were too complicated, and things didn’t go well. However, it was here that Bach met Maria Barbara, who he married.
Cantata “Jesus Binds Death” BWV.4 (a cantata based on Luther’s chorale)
Cantata “Aeolus Satisfied” BWV.205
Wedding Cantata BWV.202
Cantata “Awake, a Voice Calls” BWV.140
Orchestral Suite No. 3: BWV.1068 (“Air on the G String”)
Scene 4 / The new family is always lively
Bach was also enthusiastic about music education. He devised fingerings for the harpsichord and organ, and composed exercises for his pupils and sons.
Toccata and Fugue / BWV.566
Inventions for two voices Sinfonia for three voices The
Well-Tempered Clavier / Book 1, No. 1 Prelude
Scene 5: Sudden Parting
His wife Maria Barbara died suddenly, leaving behind four children. Bach was not able to be with her before she died.
・Partita for solo violin/No. 2: BWV.1004
・Magnificat/BWV.243
Act 2
Scene 1 / “From Deep Anguish” Bach in despair
After losing his beloved wife, Bach is heartbroken and wishes for his own death. In Bach’s heart, Luther’s chorale, which tells him to entrust everything to God, echoes. Gradually, Bach comes to accept the cross of suffering with joy.
・Brandenburg Concerto / No. 5, 2nd movement: BWV.1050
・From Deep Anguish (Luther’s Chorale) / Hymn 21: No.160
・Cantata “I look forward to death” / BWV.82
・Cantata “I will bear my cross with joy” / BWV.56
Scene 2: New Love
Bach, once again devoting himself to his work, meets Anna Magdalena, a woman 16 years younger than him, and remarries. The couple has children one after another, and Bach enjoys the happiness of being a father. Coffee is popular in the town. The Notebook of
Anna Magdalena
Bach, Volume 2, Minuet
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Volume 1, No. 13, Prelude and Fugue
Coffee Cantata, BWV.211
Scene 3 / Christmas
Bach composed many pieces based on chorales, which had been a source of support for him since he was a child. He turned Luther’s “From Beyond Heaven” into a choral piece, a fast-paced instrumental piece, and intricately intertwined pieces in the style of a canon (a chasing melody). He spun many pieces from a single chorale melody like magic. This method of composition, called counterpoint, gradually came to be considered outdated, but Bach was proud of the perfection of contrapuntal music.
・Cantata “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” / BWV.147
・From Beyond Heaven (Luther’s Chorale) / Hymn 21: No.246
・Christmas Oratorio / BWV.248 (based on Luther’s Chorale)
・Canon-like Variations on a Christmas Hymn / BWV.769 (based on Luther’s Chorale)
・Peter Fugue / BWV.961
・Chorare Prelude / BWV.700 (based on Luther’s Chorale)
・The Well-Tempered Clavier / Prelude, Book 1, No.2
Scene 4: The Death of Bach
Bach died at the age of 65 as a result of a botched cataract operation.
・Cantata “I Am Satisfied” “Drowsy, tired eyes” BWV.82
・Cello Suite No. 4: BWV.1010
Scene 5: Bach is received by Luther
The chorale that Luther founded so that everyone could praise God through music was greatly expanded by Bach 200 years later. Luther’s chorale, “God is my tower,” resounds loudly.
・Beautiful Star in the Dawn Sky (Philip Nicolai)
・God is my Tower (Luther’s Chorale) / Hymn 21: No. 377
・Cantata “God is my Tower” / BWV.80 (based on Luther’s Chorale)