Canberra Bach Ensemble

03/09/2026

In September 1727, 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐱𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝, died at the age of 55.

The wife of Augustus the Strong, she had remained steadfastly Lutheran after her husband converted to Catholicism in order to become King of Poland. This earned her particular affection and respect among the people of Protestant Saxony.

Her death prompted widespread mourning. In Leipzig, a special memorial was arranged at the University Church, and Bach was commissioned to provide the music.

The result was 𝑳𝒂ß, 𝑭𝒖̈𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏, 𝒍𝒂ß 𝒏𝒐𝒄𝒉 𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒏 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒉𝒍 𝐁𝐖𝐕 𝟏𝟗𝟖 — the 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑢𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑒 or Funeral Ode — first performed on 𝟏𝟕 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟕𝟐𝟕.

Bach responded to the occasion with music of exceptional richness and expressive depth: at once intimate, solemn and magnificent.

On 𝟑 & 𝟒 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 the Canberra Bach Ensemble will perform this remarkable work at 𝐒𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐥, 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐤𝐚.

CONCERT DETAILS & TICKETS: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1630519

01/09/2026

The story behind Bach’s Funeral Ode https://mailchi.mp/tpg/the-story-behind-bachs-funeral-ode

14/08/2026

Bach’s 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑢𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑒 BWV 198 is one of his most extraordinary creations: music of profound tenderness, solemnity and luminous beauty, written in memory of Christiane Eberhardine, Electress of Saxony. Its distinctive colours — including transverse flutes, oboes d’amore, violas da gamba and lutes — create a sound-world of elegance and spendour.

Hear this remarkable masterpiece with the Canberra Bach Ensemble on 𝟑–𝟒 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚.

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1630519

Photos©: Peter Hislop

Visit Canberra
BACH - We Are FAMILY! - Bachfest Leipzig

12/08/2026

Bach’s Funeral Ode BWV 198 — 3 & 4 October - https://mailchi.mp/tpg/bachs-funeral-ode-bwv-198-3-4-october

26/06/2026

Dear CBE Friends,

Thank you for your generous support, which has helped the Canberra Bach Ensemble raise over half of our Australian Cultural Fund goal for the 2026 Bach Cantatas Project.

As we continue working towards this goal, we would like to remind you that donations to our Australian Cultural Fund campaign are tax-deductible, with the end of the financial year approaching on 30 June.

If you have been meaning to contribute, or would like to help us move closer to our target, donations can be made here:

The Canberra Bach Ensemble presents another year of J.S. Bach's Cantatas, in the lead up to their second performance at the Leipzig Bach Festival.

14/06/2026

Wow, this is a very interesting post - an AI-assisted reconstruction of what the Nikolaikirche Leipzig would have looked like inside the building during Bach's time as Thomaskantor, specifically the first ten years or so, and before major structural changes were made to the interior of the building in the latter part of the 18th century. An interesting insight as we contemplate our upcoming performance in this important place in just on a year's time, 17 June 2027 - Cantatas BWV 61 and 7, and some additional motets.

Many thanks to those who have recently made tax-deductible donations to our current Australian Cultural Fund 2026 campaign. If you would like to considering supporting the Canberra Bach Ensemble further information can be found at the following page:
https://artists.australianculturalfund.org.au/s/project/a2EMn00000bmnvZMAQ/bach-cantatas-2026

BACH - We Are FAMILY! - Bachfest Leipzig
Bach-Archiv · Bachfest Leipzig

08/06/2026

https://mailchi.mp/tpg/a-small-request-and-some-exciting-news-from-leipzig

Next Concerts: February 14-15, St Christopher's Cathedral, Canberra. Bach Cantatas BWV 22, 23, 127, 233

07/06/2026

17 June 2027 at 2.00pm... looks like we're in!

18/05/2026

This afternoon we attended a farewell reception at the Apostolic Nunciature in Canberra for Archbishop Charles Balvo, who will soon conclude his time in Australia and retire.

Since arriving in Canberra in 2022, Archbishop Balvo has regularly attended our Canberra Bach Ensemble concerts for the same reasons we do - simply out of a genuine love of Bach’s music. Over the past few years it has been a pleasure to see him at our performances and to get to know him a little along the way.

We are very grateful for his quiet support of our work during his time in Canberra, and we wish him every happiness and good health in his retirement.

𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘣𝘦𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘩 𝘢𝘶𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘞𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯,
𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘴 𝘋𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘯𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘶...

All the very best for the years ahead.

12/05/2026

One of the extraordinary historical sites of Leipzig...