Passions

Johann Sebastian Bach: A Stage Play

J.S. Bach is considered by many as the greatest composer of all time. He has been performed all over the world by countless generations of musicians. His music is timeless, beloved for its incredible complexities, and its ability to delight and inspire. His most difficult compositions have been played on every instrument imaginable, including kazoos, ukuleles, and synthesizers, with great success. Yet, despite the tremendous volume of art he produced, and his importance in the annals of musical history, there is little known about his personal life. In this full-length play, we take a journey into the inner workings of the man, looking through the eyes of his second wife, Anna Magdalena. We explore a Bach who dealt with guilt over his infatuation with his young wife, an explosive relationship with his sons, the agonies and ecstasies of working as a mere hired man for those with no musical tastes, and a fermenting, ever evolving fervor for his beloved God, to whom he dedicated his whole life’s work. In other words, his passions. Follow this surprise-ridden labyrinth into the mind and heart of this genius.