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Donald Macleod delves into JC Bach’s London concert series with Abel, put on in a room hung about with paintings by their friend, Gainsborough.

Composer of the Week explores the life and music of the ‘English Bach’, Johann Christian Bach, whose blending of German technique with Italian lyricism in his music made him not only the leading composer in London but a favourite too with the likes of Mozart. He was the youngest son of JS Bach, and the first of Bach’s numerous sons to visit Italy, where he had lessons with Padre Martini. JC Bach spent much time composing sacred music whilst in Italy, but he soon got the opera bug, and it was a commission for the Haymarket theatre in London which enticed him to travel to England, where he remained based for the rest of his life. Bach became a music tutor to members of the royal family, and his operas were soon wowing London audiences. He also set up a famous series of London concerts with another musician, CF Abel. Celebrated singers of the age all wanted to perform arias by Bach, and when the Mozart family visited London, Bach became a mentor to the young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. JC Bach also produced operas for European stages in Paris and Mannheim, and his works became so popular that many pirated editions appeared in print during his lifetime.

Bach had become one of the most important musical figures in London with regular commissions for opera, his music frequently performed in the cities pleasure gardens, and appointed Master of the Queen’s Music. Next, he began a fruitful collaboration with fellow London musician, CF Abel. The pair established a set of subscription concerts which became highly popular. Their circle of friends included the actor-manager David Garrick, opera director Thomas Sheridan, and the artist Thomas Gainsborough. Gainsborough’s paintings adorned the interior of the concert hall in Hanover Square where their concerts took place, and he also painted both Bach and Abel a number of times.

Also in this period, Bach fell in love with the daughter of the flautist Johann Baptist Wendling, but on travelling to Mannheim to compose an opera there, Bach soon realised that her affections were for the Elector of Mannheim, and not him.

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Philippe Jaroussky (Adriano), countertenor
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Jérémie Rhorer, director

Berenice (Confusa, smarrita)
Anna Devin, soprano
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Ian Page, director

Oboe Concerto No 1 in F major, W. C80 (Allegro)
Anthony Robson, oboe
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Anthony Halstead, conductor

Carattaco, T.221 (Fra l’orrore)
Philippe Jaroussky (Carattaco), countertenor
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Jérémie Rhorer, director

Endimione, W. G 15 (Semplicetto, ancor non sai)
Sandrine Piau (Diana), soprano
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Julien Chauvin, conductor

Symphony in E flat, Op 9 No 2, W. C19
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Hanspeter Gmür, conductor

Temistocle, T. 238 (Ch’io parta)
Philippe Jaroussky (Lisimaco), countertenor
Le Cercle De L’Harmonie
Jérémie Rhorer, director

Produced by Luke Whitlock