Country

:

Japan

Genre

:

Choral

 

Bach Collegium Japan is a renowned classical music ensemble that specializes in the performance of Baroque music, particularly the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. The ensemble was founded in 1990 by Masaaki Suzuki, a Japanese conductor, harpsichordist, and organist who is widely regarded as one of the leading interpreters of Bach's music. Suzuki was born in Kobe, Japan, in 1954, and began studying music at a young age. He went on to study at the Tokyo University of the Arts, where he specialized in the performance of early music on historical instruments. In 1983, he traveled to Europe to study with the renowned Dutch harpsichordist Gustav Leonhardt, who had a profound influence on his approach to Bach's music. Upon returning to Japan, Suzuki founded Bach Collegium Japan with the aim of bringing historically informed performances of Bach's music to Japanese audiences. The ensemble quickly gained a reputation for its high level of musicianship and attention to detail, and began to attract international attention as well. Bach Collegium Japan's core members are a group of highly skilled instrumentalists and vocalists who specialize in Baroque music. The ensemble typically performs with a small chamber orchestra and a choir of around 20 singers, although the size of the ensemble can vary depending on the repertoire being performed. One of the highlights of Bach Collegium Japan's career was their complete recording of Bach's sacred cantatas, which they began in 1995 and completed in 2013. This monumental project involved recording all 199 of Bach's cantatas, which are sacred choral works that were composed for use in Lutheran church services. The recordings were released on the BIS label and received widespread critical acclaim, with many critics hailing them as definitive interpretations of Bach's music. In addition to their recordings, Bach Collegium Japan has also performed extensively throughout Japan and around the world. They have appeared at major music festivals such as the Edinburgh International Festival and the BBC Proms, and have collaborated with leading soloists and conductors such as Yo-Yo Ma and Ton Koopman. Bach Collegium Japan has received numerous awards and accolades for their performances and recordings. In 2014, they were awarded the prestigious Bach Prize by the city of Leipzig, Germany, which is the birthplace of Bach and a center of Baroque music. The prize is awarded every two years to individuals or ensembles who have made significant contributions to the performance and interpretation of Bach's music. Overall, Bach Collegium Japan has established itself as one of the leading ensembles in the world of Baroque music. Their commitment to historically informed performance practices and their deep understanding of Bach's music have earned them a devoted following and widespread critical acclaim.

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