Do you love Bach?
If the answer is “yes,” try not to miss a series of four “Bach ad Meridiem” concerts on Saturdays, June 13, 20, 27, and July 4, at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels.
For the third consecutive year, the Ars in Cathedrali association presents this series of organ concerts dedicated exclusively to Johann Sebastian Bach.
From 12:00 to 12:45, the German composer will be celebrated by organists Ben Van Nespen, Charlène Bertholet, Annelies Focquaert, and Momoyo Kokubu.
The concerts will take place in the Cathedral Choir, where the organ built by Brussels organ builder Patrick Collon in 1977 is located. Baroque music, including, of course, that of Johann Sebastian Bach, sounds particularly good on this organ.
Too little known today, this instrument is inspired by the sound of the organs built during Bach’s time by Gottfried Silbermann (1683-1753), which are located in Saxony and Thuringia.
The “Bach ad Meridiem” series is a unique opportunity to hear the works of Bach on an instrument that truly does him justice.
Saturday, June 13: Ben Van Nespen
Born in Antwerp, Ben Van Nespen gave his first organ recital at the age of 15, performing the complete cycle “La Nativité du Seigneur” by Olivier Messiaen. He has received numerous awards, played with leading Baroque ensembles, and performed throughout most of Europe. A soloist on both organ and harpsichord, he performs a wide repertoire spanning the 16th to the 21st centuries and has premiered several works by Flemish composers. He has released several CDs recorded on historical organs. Since 2025, he has also taught harpsichord and basso continuo at the International Opera Academy in Ghent.
Programme
Prelude in G major BWV 568
Fugue in C minor on a Theme of Legrenzi BWV 574
Allein Gott in the Höh sei Ehr (bicinium) BWV 711
Allein Gott in the Höh sei Ehr BWV 716
Trio Sonata in D minor BWV 527 (Andante – Adagio e dolce – Vivace)
Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr il canto fermo nel tenore BWV 663
Prelude & Fuge in C Major BWV 545
Saturday, June 20: Charlène Bertholet
Pianist and organist Charlène Bertholet performs regularly in both disciplines, both in Belgium and throughout Europe. She participates in international festivals such as Toulouse les Orgues, L’Europe & l’Orgue in Maastricht, the Toul Bach Festival, and the Gothenburg International Organ Academy. Since 2024, she has been a Young Ambassador for ECHO (European Cities of Historical Organ). She performs both as a soloist and in ensembles and is a member of early music groups such as Ensemble Myosotis and the Komorebi Consort.
Programme
Organ piece BWV 572
Jesu, meine Freude BWV 610
Trio Sonata No. 1 in E Flat major BWV 525 (Allegro moderato – Adagio – Allegro)
Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot BWV 678
Canzona in D minor BWV 588
Prelude & Fuge in G major BWV 541
Saturday, June 27: Annelies Focquaert
Annelies Focquaert graduated from organ school in Antwerp in 2001. In 2014, she defended her doctoral thesis in Arts on the life and work of the Belgian organist Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens at AUHA (University of Art and History). She has been coordinator for ‘Het Orgel in Vlaanderen vzw’ (The Organ in Flanders) and research assistant at the Studiecentrum voor Vlaamse Muziek vzw (Center for Flemish Music). She teaches organ and harpsichord and, since 2015, has been the titular organist of St. George’s Church in Antwerp. Annelies performs in Belgium and many other European countries. She also accompanies other soloists, choirs, and renowned ensembles on the organ or harmonium.
Programme
Prelude & Fuge in A minor BWV 543
Aria (from: Suite No. 3 in D major BWV 1068 / arr.: J. Callaerts)
Erbarm’ dich mein, O Herre Gott BWV 721
Religious prelude (from: Petite Messe solennelle – G. Rossini)
Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier (Orgelbüchlein) BWV 633
Pastorale in C-minor (from: Bach’s Memento (1925) – Ch.-M. Widor)
Aria (from: Goldbergvariationen BWV 988)
Concerto in A minor BWV 593 (Allegro) – Adagio – Allegro
Saturday, July 4: Momoyo Kokubu
Momoyo Kokubu was born in Osaka, Japan. After Tokyo, she continued her studies in organ, harpsichord, piano, and early music at the Royal College of Music in London. She moved to Belgium in 1995. She has won numerous international awards and was a finalist in the International Organ Competitions in Freiberg and Maastricht. Momoyo is the titular organist of the Loret organ at the Church of Our Lady of Finistère in Brussels, where she has organized the “Organ Mondays” series since 2000. Momoyo has recorded six CDs of works by J.S. Bach and C. Franck, which have received awards for best recordings from the Japanese magazine “Record Geijyutsu.” Momoyo gives organ recitals in Europe, Japan, and Russia. She is a member of the Baroque ensemble FILIÆ. She continues her complete recording of Bach’s trio sonatas with her 5th CD, “Bach in E-flat major,” to be released this year.
Programme: “Bach in E-flat major”
Concerto in F major, BWV 971/1
O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig, BWV 618
Trio Sonata No. 1 in E-flat major, BWV 525 (Allegro moderato – Adagio – Allegro)
O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß, BWV 622
Prelude & Fuge in E-flat major, BWV 552
Did you know?
The numbers “14” and “41” are Bach’s numerical signature.
Searching for this number in the works and life of Bach reveals the secrets of this incredible numerical signature.
In numerology, the sum of the numbers corresponding to the letters B.A.C.H. (2+1+3+8) equals “14”. Furthermore, adding the digits of his first and last names gives “41”, the reverse of “14”, just as adding the digits of J.S. Bach does.
In music, the notes B.A.C.H. correspond to: B-flat-A-C-B natural.
Throughout the composer’s works, this number appears in the form of a particular dissonance.
One example among many: in Prelude and Fugue No. 1 from the “Well-Tempered Clavier,” the fugue’s subject consists of 14 notes, and in measure 14, this subject is repeated 14 times. The final fugue, meanwhile, is numbered 14. The list of examples is almost endless, as the number “14” appears everywhere in the works of J.S. Bach.
Practical information:
Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula – St. Gudula Square – 1000 Brussels
Open from 11:30 am
Reservations: arsincathedrali@gmail.com
Admission: €10 per adult – free for those under 18
Website: https://www.cathedralisbruxellensis.be/bach-ad-meridiem
Billeterie :
https://www.billetweb.fr/bach-ad-meridiem-ben-van-espen
https://www.billetweb.fr/bach-ad-meridiem-charlene-bertholet
https://www.billetweb.fr/bach-ad-meridiem-annelies-focquaert
- Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
