Barokorkest B'Rock . Alfredo Bernardini

The arrival of the young Norwegian bass Johannes Weisser on the early music scene has got to be one of the most exciting discoveries of the last few years. He first came to our attention when he made a breathtaking impression in the role of Don Giovanni, conducted by René Jacobs. The young Flemish Baroque ensemble B' Rock has invited him to undertake the radically different but equally challenging two Cantatas for Bass by Bach. 'Ich habe genug' and 'Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen' are two of Bach's most enjoyable cantatas. In both pieces the oboe and the bass both take a solo role, so it comes as no surprise that B'Rock have invited the oboist Alfredo Bernardini to take the lead in this production. The festive orchestral Overture and the equally exuberant Double Concerto for violin and oboe create a sharp contrast between this and the intimate, deeply religious and often inexpressible sad undertones of the cantatas.