Ben Wilson

In his biography, Wolf writes of it, quote, Leipzig audiences deprived since 1720 of their own opera house could experience in Bach's Drammi Permusica something of what was offered by the Royal Opera in Dresden. At the same time, Bach's pieces were by no means poor or makeshift substitutes for real opera.

In his biography, Wolf writes of it, quote, Leipzig audiences deprived since 1720 of their own opera house could experience in Bach's Drammi Permusica something of what was offered by the Royal Opera in Dresden. At the same time, Bach's pieces were by no means poor or makeshift substitutes for real opera.

His compositions demonstrate at every step full mastery of the dramatic genre and the proper pacing of the dialogues. So he writes the St. Matthew's Passion. It's played in Leipzig. We don't know for sure how it was received, but it was played there in Leipzig for the better part of a century until 1800.

His compositions demonstrate at every step full mastery of the dramatic genre and the proper pacing of the dialogues. So he writes the St. Matthew's Passion. It's played in Leipzig. We don't know for sure how it was received, but it was played there in Leipzig for the better part of a century until 1800.

Okay, so clearly it met with some acclaim and it was recognized, at least on some level, for the masterpiece it was. Or else, you know, usually you'd get new compositions, hear new music every Easter season. Why are they playing the St. Matthew's Passion every single year until 1800? It's because they recognize, on some level, this is something fantastic. At the same time, though... This St.

Okay, so clearly it met with some acclaim and it was recognized, at least on some level, for the masterpiece it was. Or else, you know, usually you'd get new compositions, hear new music every Easter season. Why are they playing the St. Matthew's Passion every single year until 1800? It's because they recognize, on some level, this is something fantastic. At the same time, though... This St.

Matthew's fashion by Bach was not performed in its entirety outside of Leipzig until 1829. That is 100 years after its first performance. One of the great works of art in human history wasn't heard outside of Leipzig for 100 years. In fact, the reason that so many of us know about it today is sheer dumb luck.

Matthew's fashion by Bach was not performed in its entirety outside of Leipzig until 1829. That is 100 years after its first performance. One of the great works of art in human history wasn't heard outside of Leipzig for 100 years. In fact, the reason that so many of us know about it today is sheer dumb luck.

It so easily could have gone the other way because what happens is the great German composer Felix Mendelssohn, he's kind of two generations removed from Bach. And Felix Mendelssohn's grandmother happened to own a copy of the St. Matthew's Passion. And so he gets a look at it and he says, wow. And so Felix Mendelssohn puts on this performance in Berlin in 1829.

It so easily could have gone the other way because what happens is the great German composer Felix Mendelssohn, he's kind of two generations removed from Bach. And Felix Mendelssohn's grandmother happened to own a copy of the St. Matthew's Passion. And so he gets a look at it and he says, wow. And so Felix Mendelssohn puts on this performance in Berlin in 1829.

And that was the right music for the right moment. And it sells out. The response is ecstatic. And then they sell out a second and third showing. And then it spreads like wildfire from there. It spreads outside of Germany and into England and France and all over Europe. Anyway, the Leipzig years are very productive for Bach in terms of composing. He's composing a ton.

And that was the right music for the right moment. And it sells out. The response is ecstatic. And then they sell out a second and third showing. And then it spreads like wildfire from there. It spreads outside of Germany and into England and France and all over Europe. Anyway, the Leipzig years are very productive for Bach in terms of composing. He's composing a ton.

All these new, beautiful, amazing compositions are coming out. And they are well-received, but that's not what he's known for at the time. At the time, he is known as an exceptional composer. And that's why he's really celebrated. He is famous in Germany as like the great keyboard performer of the age.

All these new, beautiful, amazing compositions are coming out. And they are well-received, but that's not what he's known for at the time. At the time, he is known as an exceptional composer. And that's why he's really celebrated. He is famous in Germany as like the great keyboard performer of the age.

And he's producing a lot of compositions, but they're not widely recognized at the time as works of genius. Probably the most famous incident in his life's years happens towards the end of his life.

And he's producing a lot of compositions, but they're not widely recognized at the time as works of genius. Probably the most famous incident in his life's years happens towards the end of his life.

In 1747, he was invited by Frederick the Great to come meet with him and perform in the king's palace in Potsdam, just outside of Berlin, where Frederick was king of Prussia and where Bach's son, Emmanuel, Carl Emmanuel Philip, Carl Philip Emmanuel, excuse me, Bach, was his court musician.

In 1747, he was invited by Frederick the Great to come meet with him and perform in the king's palace in Potsdam, just outside of Berlin, where Frederick was king of Prussia and where Bach's son, Emmanuel, Carl Emmanuel Philip, Carl Philip Emmanuel, excuse me, Bach, was his court musician.

And Frederick the Great was a genius, one of those few men with talent, not only in war and politics, but also in art and music. He was a great flautist. He played the flute and apparently a halfway decent composer as well. And so Frederick the Great is always pestering Carl Philip Emanuel Bach to invite his famous father to come perform for him. And finally, he insists.

And Frederick the Great was a genius, one of those few men with talent, not only in war and politics, but also in art and music. He was a great flautist. He played the flute and apparently a halfway decent composer as well. And so Frederick the Great is always pestering Carl Philip Emanuel Bach to invite his famous father to come perform for him. And finally, he insists.