J S Bach's Magnificat is one of his most exuberant works in which Mary offers praise and thanksgiving to God. Written during Bach's early years in Leipzig and first performed in 1723, the work combines choruses, arias and ensembles in a sequence of movements that reflect the changing moods and imagery of the text. It remains one of Bach's most frequently performed sacred works.
The programme also includes Clive Osgood's Magnificat, a contemporary setting of the same text, offering a modern perspective on Mary's song while continuing a musical tradition that spans many centuries.
Completing the programme is Bach's Lutheran Mass in G minor (BWV 235), one of four short masses composed in the 1730s. Consisting of settings of the Kyrie and Gloria, it draws on music from earlier cantatas and demonstrates Bach's skill in adapting existing material to new liturgical contexts.