Bach’s Music Transformed into Pure Passion
Review of the concert A Musical Story: Johann Sebastian Bach
On 1 November 2024, the National Gallery – Daut Pasha Hammam in Skopje was dedicated to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The concert A Musical Story: Johann Sebastian Bach brought together selected arias and duets from the St Matthew Passion, the Mass in B minor and the cantata Jesu, der du meine Seele, alongside the Toccata in E minor, BWV 914.
The performers were soprano Marija Tashevska, alto Mariana Boshkovska and pianist Dr. Mimoza Keka. The distinctive acoustics and architecture of the historic Daut Pasha Hammam created a characteristic setting for the vocal and instrumental Bach programme.
Between Voice and Piano
The concert opened with a brief introduction by Mimoza Keka. In Blute nur, mein liebes Herz from the St Matthew Passion, Tashevska introduced the vocal part of the evening, accompanied by Keka at the piano.
In the duet So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen, the two voices were combined with a finely shaped piano accompaniment. The review particularly noted Keka’s nuanced dynamic control and the emotional intensity of the interaction between the three musicians.
Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben once again brought Tashevska’s soprano to the foreground, before Keka introduced an instrumental contrast with the Toccata in E minor, BWV 914. The review associated the sound of the piano with the effect of an organ, reinforcing the spiritual atmosphere of the programme.
Bach’s Vocal Sound World
In the duet Et in unum Dominum from the Mass in B minor, BWV 232, the musical cohesion and interplay of the voices came to the foreground.
Mariana Boshkovska then performed the Agnus Dei with her dark, resonant alto, supported by piano lines that clearly articulated the polyphonic structure of the movement.
The concert concluded with the lively duet Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten from the cantata Jesu, der du meine Seele, BWV 78. The review describes the conclusion as marked by visible enjoyment in performance and an immediate sense of musical communication.
Music, Architecture and Visual Art
A distinctive aspect of the evening was the interaction between music, architecture and visual art. At the time of the concert, the Daut Pasha Hammam was also presenting the exhibition Austrian Modernism after 1945.
The expressive use of colour, minimalism and abstracted forms in the exhibited works created a contrasting dialogue with Bach’s music. The Ottoman architecture of the historic building further intensified this relationship and gave the concert a distinctive spatial and visual context.
Original Review
Milena Naumovska
Buzarovski Archive · 12 November 2024
Bach's Music Transformed into Pure Passion
On November 1, 2024, the concert A Musical Story: Johann Sebastian Bach captivated audiences at the National Art Gallery Daut Pasha Hamam. This unique event featured arias and duets from Bach’s monumental works, including the St. Matthew Passion, Mass in B Minor, and the cantata Jesu, der du meine Seele, complemented by the virtuosic performance of the Toccata in E Minor.
About the Concert Musical Story: Johann Sebastian Bach
The venue for the event was the National Art Gallery Daut Pasha Hammam, renowned for its vivid architecture and unique location. The selected venue proved ideal for performing Bach’s vocal masterpieces, thanks to its exceptional acoustic characteristics.
The performers, soprano Marija Tashevska and alto Mariana Boskovska, are young artists showcasing remarkable skill in a diverse vocal repertoire, from chamber scenes to performances with orchestras. Both are recent graduates of the Faculty of Music Arts in Skopje. Their performances have drawn significant attention in Musica Viva concerts organized by the Faculty of Music Arts, as well as in the annual concerts In Honor of Kosta Trpkov, where solo singing students perform with the National Opera and Ballet orchestra.
This concert marked their collaboration with pianist Mimoza Keka, a universal concert pianist and Doctor of Musical Arts from the Faculty of Music Arts. Keka has often performed with the duo as an artistic collaborator for the Vocal Studio course, led by conductor Bisera Chadlovska.
The Program Highlights
The concert began with a brief introduction by Dr. Keka, who announced the program. The first piece, “Blute nur, mein liebes Herz” for soprano from St. Matthew Passion BWV 244 (1727), opened with Keka’s piano accompaniment that immersed the audience in Bach’s spiritual music and biblical themes. Tashevska conveyed the pain and sacrifice of Jesus Christ with profound passion.
The soprano-alto duet “So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen,” portraying Christ’s capture, featured Keka’s nuanced dynamics and the singers’ heartfelt expressions, intensifying the emotion. Tashevska’s pure, resonant voice shone in “Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben,” reflecting Christ’s love and sacrifice for humanity.
Following the arias, Keka performed Toccata in E Minor BWV 914 (1710), where the piano resonated like an organ, enhancing the spiritual atmosphere.
The duet “Et in unum Dominum” from the Mass in B Minor BWV 232 (1749) displayed the cohesion and harmonic richness of the performers, embodying Bach’s spirit and the connection between Christ and the believer.
Boskovska’s exceptional voice, with its dark and rich timbre, shone in the alto aria “Agnus Dei,” achieving a sense of peace and spiritual transcendence, supported by Keka’s precise polyphonic piano lines.
The concert concluded with the vibrant duet “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten” from Jesu, der du meine Seele BWV 78 (1724), performed with evident enjoyment by all three artists, their smiles lighting up the evening.
Artistic Synthesis
The event also included visual art from the Austrian Modern Art After 1945 exhibition. The expressive use of color, minimalism, and distorted forms of the artworks paralleled the depth of Bach’s music. Together, they created a fusion of Baroque spirituality and postmodern introspection, amplified by the unique Ottoman architecture of the 15th-century venue, designed as a space for both physical and emotional cleansing.
Milena Naumovska, November 12, 2024, buzar.mk