Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Donald Macleod traces Bach's final years from the success at the palace of King Frederick the Great to his failing health in Leipzig.

Donald Macleod traces Bach's final years. Bach enjoys great success at the palace of King Frederick the Great which results in his genius late work the Musical Offering. But Bach's eyesight is beginning to fail and cataract operations lead to infections and a stroke which eventually result in his death in the evening of the 28th July 1750.

Ricercar a 6 (Musical Offering, BWV 1079)
Musica Antiqua K枚ln
Reinhard Goebel (conductor)

Viola da gamba Sonata No. 3 in G minor, BWV 1029
Pablo Casals (cello) / Paul Baumgartner (piano)

Ich habe genug, BWV 82
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)
Munich Bach Orchestra
Karl Richter (conductor)

Presenter: Donald Macleod
Producer: Rosie Boulton.

1 hour

Last on

Fri 22 Dec 2017 12:00

Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Musical Offering BWV 1079 Ricercar a 6

    Performer: Musica Antiqua K枚ln. Performer: Reinhard Goebel. Director: Reinhard Goebel.
    • Musical Offering.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 16.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Gamba Sonata G minor No. 3 BWV 1029

    Performer: Pau Casals. Performer: Paul Baumgartner.
    • Bach: 3 Sonatas.
    • CBS.
    • 7.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Ich Habe Genug BWV 82

    Orchestra: Munich Bach Orchestra. Conductor: Karl Richter. Singer: Dietrich Fischer鈥怐ieskau.
    • JS Bach Cantatas.
    • Archiv Produktion.
    • 14.

Broadcast

  • Fri 22 Dec 2017 12:00

Featured in...

Vaughan Williams Today

Vaughan Williams Today

Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.

Beethoven Unleashed 鈥 the box set

Beethoven Unleashed 鈥 the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time 鈥 why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.