J.S. Bach – de Apocalyps

In English

Looking at his dramatic and emotional passions and cantatas, one can imagine that Bach would also have been a fantastic opera composer. It almost came to that, too. Challenged by that thought, OPERA2DAY and the Netherlands Bach Society created the opera Bach never wrote.

The opera tells the true story of Jan van Leyden. In the 16th century, this actor, pub landlord and tailor became the leader of a movement proclaiming that the world would fall. A salvation state was established. This radicalised and became a dictatorship. We follow John from his initial enthusiasm, through his equally flamboyant and ruthless kingship to his final confession on death row. We thus experience from the inside how the timeless mechanisms of populism, polarisation and radicalisation do their work.

With gripping, overpowering and emotional music by Bach, the story comes to life. Scenarist and director Serge van Veggel, together with librettist Thomas Höft and baroque specialist and modern composer Panos Iliopoulos, turned the work into a true through-composed opera. Thanks to a compelling and grandiose staging, an outstanding cast and the choir and orchestra of the Nederlandse Bachvereniging conducted by Hernán Schvartzman, Bach will be heard and seen as never before.