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The Chosen One

Academy of Ancient Music

,Milton Court Concert Hall
A painting of a satyr

Leipzig’s got talent: in 1723 Bach competed for one of Germany’s top musical jobs. Today, Laurence Cummings and Academy of Ancient Music reveal exactly what he was up against.

Genius loves company, but when a plum job is up for grabs the gloves come off. After Bach got the gig in Leipzig in 1723, his disappointed employers made it very clear that he wasn’t even their second choice. So who came first – and, for that matter, second? You’d expect them to be good.

Today, we hear exactly how good, as Laurence Cummings and AAM re-open the Leipzig personnel files and go musical headhunting all over again. Hear the very cantatas that Georg Philipp Telemann and Christoph Graupner composed as musical job applications – music that gave Bach a run for his money. And then, of course, we’ll hear from the man himself: first among equals in a golden age of sacred music.

Tagged with: Classical music Young Barbican Academy of Ancient Music Multibuy 2025/26 More...

Promoted by Academy of Ancient Music

Programme

  • Christoph Graupner   ‘Lobet den Herrn alle Heiden’ GWV 1113/23b
  • Georg Philipp Telemann   ‘Ich muß auf den Bergen weinen und heulen’ TVWV 1/591
  • Johann Sebastian Bach   ‘Du wahrer Gott und Davis Sohn’ BWV 23

Performers

  • Academy of Ancient Music   orchestra & choir
  • Laurence Cummings   director & harpsichord
  • Rowan Pierce   soprano
  • Helen Charlston   alto
  • Nick Pritchard   tenor
  • Ben Kazez   bass

Ticket prices

Standard
From £15 *
* Excludes £4 booking fee

Booking fees

£4 booking fee per online/phone transaction. 

No fee when tickets are booked in person.

Booking fees are per transaction and not per ticket. If your booking contains several events the highest booking fee will apply. The booking fee may be reduced on certain events. Members do not pay booking fees.

Milton Court Concert Hall

Location
Milton Court Concert Hall is located within the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and is approximately a 5 minute walk from the Barbican entrance on Silk Street.  

Address
Milton Court
Silk St, London
EC2Y 9BH

Nearby public transport
We are within walking distance from a number of London Underground stations, the closest being Barbican, Old Street, St Paul’s and Moorgate. The nearest train stations are Liverpool Street and Farringdon. Bus Route 153 runs directly past the Barbican along Chiswell Street

Car and bicycle parking
We have free bicycle spaces and paid car parking spaces available

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