Bach, the Universe and Everything: Lunar Trailblazers

In the penultimate edition of Bach, the Universe and Everything, we consider our changing views of the Moon and exciting discoveries on the horizon with NASA's new Lunar Trailblazer mission.

Bach’s cantata Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn (BWV 92) implores its listener to put aside doubts and questions ‘to give over to God’s heart and mind’. In it, Bach displays his remarkable inventiveness in handling chorales (with no less than five different settings!) whilst the tenor, bass and soprano soloists take us on a stormy journey to heaven.

Our guest speaker, Katherine Shirley is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford whose work focuses on the Moon, asteroids and comets. She is a member of several NASA and European Space Agency mission and instrument teams, including Lunar Trailblazer.

Please note that there has been a change to the originally advertised speaker for this event.

Bach, the Universe and Everything is a concert series with a difference. Across six Sunday morning events, we explore the human desire to understand our place in the cosmos, guided by the work of JS Bach – composer and intergalactic genius – through his 200 cantatas. We invite you to join us on a cosmic journey: each event is built around a Bach cantata and a talk from a guest scientist, writer or broadcaster, alongside choral and instrumental music.

Series music director: Steven Devine

View the whole intergalactic season >

A student participating in an open workshop with violinist Matthew Truscott and other members of the OAE

Japanese conductor Masaaki Suzuki conducts the OAE with singer Florian Stortz

OAE musicians run a workshop in a school classroom

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London, Kings Place

Sunday 16 February 2025, 11:30am

Event detail

In the penultimate edition of Bach, the Universe and Everything, we consider our changing views of the Moon and exciting discoveries on the horizon with NASA's new Lunar Trailblazer mission.

Did you know you can support the OAE?

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