If there is a bond linking Jean-Sebastian Bach, Max Reger and Arnold Schoenberg, it is the organ. Born in Leipzig, Reger could not ignore the mythical figure of the Cantor. The music he produced for the organ was therefore extensively imbued with this influence. Meanwhile, Schoenberg earmarked only one of his compositions for this "king of instruments': Variations on a Recitative, Op. 40, inspired not only by Bach's English and French Suites, but also Reger's Stücke im alten Stil. Trained by leading figures, such as Olivier Latry and Bernard Foccroulle, the young French organist Mathias Lecomte is the ideal interpreter to bridge this great divide between the 18th and 20th centuries.
On the occasion of the Bach Heritage festiva, BOZAR LITERATURE has asked a number of poets to write a poet on Bach for the publication of "Thirteen Ways of Looking at J.S. Bach".
Variations on a recitative for organ, op. 40
Choral-Phantasie über "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott", op. 27
Partita "Sei gegrüsset, Jesu gütig", BWV 768
Practical information
Dates
Location
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula
Parvis Sainte-Gudule 1000 Brussels