Le Banquet Céleste / Hana Blažíková / Thomas Hobbs / Benoît Arnould

Presented by Philippe Maillard Productions (2-L-R-22-12384 and 3-L-R-22-12385)Hana Blažíková, sopranonn, altoThomas Hobbs, tenorBenoît Arnould, bassLe Banquet CélesteGeorg Philipp TelemannCantata TWV 4-17 « Du aber Daniel, gehe hin »Johann Sebastian BachCantata BWV 106 « Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit » (Actus tragicus)Cantata BWV 161 « Komm, du süßes Todesstunde »Meditation on death was of fundamental importance during the Baroque era, and Bach addresses this theme repeatedly throughout his cantatas. An early work already showing absolute mastery, Cantata BWV 106, known as the "Actus tragicus", is moreover directly tied to death, having been written in 1707 or 1708 for the funeral of an unknown figure. Alternately solemn, intense, or tender, this cantata must have been dear to Bach, since ten years later he employed a similar instrumentation (notably two eloquent recorders) for Cantata BWV 161, which portrays the believer weary of worldly troubles and welcoming death. Bach is not alone in evoking the Grim Reaper: his colleague and friend Telemann offers with his cantata "Du aber Daniel" a deeply moving lament also inspired by the death of an unknown person. An ensemble of exceptional singers and instrumentalists, Le Banquet Céleste continues its exploration of this fascinating repertoire in which it stands as an indisputable benchmark.