Things look a lot less cheerful the following Sunday with Schau, lieber Gott (No 153) and Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid (No 58), both saturated by an echt-Lutheran sense of anxiety and oppression.

“For the glory of God alone.” With these words, Bach signed off each of his two hundred sacred cantatas. But with so many to choose from, it’s hard to know where to begin. Our guide lifts the lid on a ...

Choosing the "best" of Johann Sebastian Bach's nearly 200 sacred cantatas is a daunting task, as each one seems perfect. But three leading Bach experts took up the challenge. Peter Wollny, director of ...