The Friends presents a fascinating program in collaboration with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. An exceptional cast of seven artists, including harpsichordist Kenneth Weiss, one of today’s foremost interpreters of Bach, offers a rare performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Musical Offering — a work that stands at the summit of contrapuntal art. Written in 1747 on a theme given to Bach by Frederick the Great, the collection unfolds as a series of ricercars, canons, and a trio sonata, each exploring the expressive and intellectual possibilities of a single musical idea. The program continues with music by Johann Sebastian’s sons — Johann Christian, Carl Philipp Emanuel, and Wilhelm Friedemann — revealing how this extraordinary musical legacy evolved from one generation to the next, and how each son defined himself in relation to their father’s immense example.
read full bio
