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Ian Skelly is at the Cheltenham Music Festival 2023 for a feast of music by Johann Sebastian Bach. The Dunedin Consort directed by John Butt begin the concert in a lively dance mode, with Bach’s Orchestral Suite No 2, which includes the iconic Badinerie. ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3’s New Generation Artist, countertenor Hugh Cutting then joins the ensemble to perform the cantata Widerstehe doch der Sünde, Stand steadfast against transgression, probably first performed in 1714. The first part of the concert is rounded off with one of Bach’s famed Brandenburg Concertos, the fifth of the set that was dedicated to the Margrave of Brandenburg in Berlin.

Another composer with a link to Brandenburg around the same period is Wilhelmine, Princess of Prussia and Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth. She was an accomplished composer writing opera, songs, a keyboard concerto, and chamber music too including a three movement Flute Sonata in A minor.

The second half of the concert from the Pittville Pump Room in Cheltenham returns to the music of Bach, and his first Violin Concerto composed around 1730, and likely first performed in Leipzig. This is followed by a return to the stage of countertenor Hugh Cutting to perform Vergnügte Ruh’, beliebte Seelenlust, Contented rest, beloved inner joy. A cantata for the sixth Sunday after Trinity. The concert then concludes with another of Bach’s popular Brandenburg Concertos, the fourth in G major.

Bach: Orchestral Suite No 2 in B minor, BWV1067
Dunedin Consort
John Butt, director

Bach: Widerstehe doch der Sünde, BWV54
Hugh Cutting, countertenor
Dunedin Consort
John Butt, director

Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No 5 in D major, BWV1050
Dunedin Consort
John Butt, director

c. 8.33pm - Interval music
Wilhelmine, Princess of Prussia, Margräfin of Bayreuth
Flute Sonata in A minor
Infusion Baroque

c. 8.41pm
Bach: Violin Concerto No 1 in A minor, BWV1041
Huw Daniel, violin
Dunedin Consort
John Butt, director

Bach: Vergnügte Ruh’, beliebte Seelenlust, BWV170
Hugh Cutting, countertenor
Dunedin Consort
John Butt, director

Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No 4 in G major, BWV1049
Dunedin Consort
John Butt, director