Quatorze and The Sydney Cantata Project are delighted to present a concert of music featuring Bach‘s Coffee Cantata, arias from other cantatas, and other works from the era of Frederick The Great.

Though more famous for his sacred music, the occasional secular gem showed Bach to be a humorous and inventive chap. Described as a mini comic opera, Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht ("be still, stop chattering"), is an amusing portrayal and celebration of a coffee addiction. It was likely first performed in a Leipzig coffee house. The three characters are a soprano, a tenor and a bass singer, with 2 violins, viola, cello, bass, harpsichord and flute.

Quatorze is an early music ensemble playing historic instruments:

• Fiona McMillan – oboe

• Ruth Crosby – traverso flute

• Phillip Murray – traverso flute

• Shaun Ng – viola da gamba/theorbo/lute

• Joanna Butler – harpsichord

The Sydney Cantata Project, directed by Jack Stephens and featuring some of Australia's best period instrument specialists and soloists, performs Bach cantatas regularly in churches around Sydney. Many of Bach’s cantatas are rarely performed and it is our intention to bring these magnificent works to local audiences.

This performance includes afternoon tea and coffee at the interval.