Replicating the concert that opened the Stimulants: circulation and euphoria exhibition, we will again resort to J.S. Bach to close it. In this case a chamber music ensemble of the Basque National Symphonic Orchestra will perform several contemporary reinterpretations of J.S. Bach's Coffee Cantata, composed by four young composers: Mikel Chamizo, Julia Eckhardt, Agnes Pe and Xabier Otaolea. Exclusively for the occasion, like coffee, maintaining the size of a coffee and respecting the time a coffee requires.
It was in the 17th century when coffee became a fashionable drink in Europe, albeit mainly among Europe’s wealthier classes. Gradually, as its consumption spread to other parts of society, countless Coffee Rooms opened which in turn, in a bid to attract new customers, started to organise music concerts. Something about this combination must have worked, when the pairing between both still persists today. Music, as it has done with all stimulating substances, regardless of their legality, has dedicated countless unforgettable odes to coffee that have been part of our musical culture for a long time; while global coffee brands still use music as a device to sell more and more coffee.
Each more stimulating than the other. J.S. Bach, a composer who on several occasions had to entertain coffee drinkers, quickly understood this relationship, particularly when composing the piece featuring in this event. The German composer found in music the perfect excuse to talk about coffee, in the precious drink the excuse to make music and in both the occasion to criticise the patriarchal society of the time. All of this, while adding ingredients, with large doses of humour.
VIOLIN: XABIER GIL. VIOLA: PAWEL KRYMER. CELLO: GABRIEL MESADO. FLUTE: HELENE BILLARD. PERCUSSION: HÉCTOR MARQUÉS.
Finissage-concert of the exhibition 'Stimulants: Circulation and Euphoria' with reintepretations of Bach's “Coffee Cantata”. A chamber music ensemble of the Basque National Symphonic Orchestra will perform several contemporary reinterpretations of J.S. Bach's Coffee Cantata, composed by four young composers.