In the Baroque sensibility, death was not something to fear but rather a peaceful homecoming, and no composer understood that better than Bach. The program culminates in his beloved cantata Ich habe genug, a deeply consoling meditation on death that unfolds like a lullaby. Countertenor Tai Oney returns to PBO, bringing a warm, mellow sound that pairs naturally with the oboe, an instrument Bach uses like an echo or guiding spirit alongside the singer. Works by Telemann, Scarlatti, Torelli, and Pergolesi build steadily toward this destination, including Telemann’s Oboe Concerto in C Minor, a dramatic spotlight for the instrument.
