Janine Jansen & Friends: Bach's Sonatas

Janine's Bach Festival

You spend your whole life with Bach, says Janine Jansen. The star violinist thinks his music is perfect; everything is right, down to the smallest detail. The Concertgebouw is like a home to her. She feels strongly connected to the place's history and acoustics. For the Small and Large Halls, she, her family, and musical friends put together a festival around Bach's music, from solo sonata to concert.

Bach's sonatas

Tonight's program would not have been out of place at a concert by Bach in Zimmermann's Leipzig coffee house. Completely following Baroque practice, the violin, alto and harpsichord play works written for other instruments: BWV 1027 is a gamba sonata, and BWV 529 is a sonata for the organ. The solo violin sonata and the two sonatas for violin and continuo show the influence of Bach's employer in Köthen, Prince Leopold, who played the violin, cello and harpsichord.