The opening concert of the 25th anniversary edition of the Baroque Soirées will remind us of the timeless and deeply spiritual beauty of the arias from the sacred cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach, which will be performed by one of their most accomplished interpreters – soprano Hana Blažíková. In his church cantatas, Bach masterfully worked with the musical setting of the text, using various compositional techniques, including so-called musical-rhetorical figures. Not only the key used, but also the melody’s progression and harmonic sequence reflected the meaning of the sung words. Johann Sebastian Bach, as a composer with a broad musical vision, was also inspired by various musical styles, including the Italian arioso and French elegance in ornamentation and rhythm. The knowledge and popularity of French music among German composers will also be evidenced in the programme by an overture composed by Johann Bernhard Bach, the second cousin of the great Johann Sebastian.