J. S. Bach in Potsdam

Johann Sebastian Bach’s enigmatic and captivating masterpiece The Musical Offering appears in a new and vibrant interpretation, released to mark the 25th anniversary of the Kammerakademie Potsdam (KAP). Created especially for the KAP by principal oboist Jan Böttcher, this new arrangement offers a fresh perspective on Bach’s work. Preserving the integrity of the original urtext, Böttcher’s arrangement—performed under the direction of concertmaster Peter Rainer—allows the work to take on a captivating new sonic character. Alongside the customary forces of a chamber orchestra rooted in historical performance practice, the instrumentation also calls for rare instruments such as bass oboe, basset horn, cornett, and piccolo trumpet, as well as the selective use of percussion. The complex fugues, enigmatic canons, and monumental ricercars reveal themselves in striking new ways. The Musical Offering is deeply intertwined with the history of Potsdam, as Bach originally dedicated the work to King Frederick II of Prussia. Recorded in the Nikolaisaal Potsdam, the work now returns to a venue steeped in history. With this recording, the KAP opens a new chapter in the performance history of this remarkable work.