Johann Sebastian Bach was born 336 years ago. On this occasion, Müpa Budapest will select recordings of its previous Bach concerts over two evenings.

The Budapest Festival Orchestra and the Müpa Budapest created a new tradition with the marathon, this concert format hitherto unknown in Hungary.

Ever since, music-lovers have considered this event to be a red-letter day on the concert calendar, which once again promises to fully satisfy all in attendance with every popular piece from their favourite composer. For the 2014 marathon, Iván Fischer has chosen one of the greatest geniuses in the history of music, Johann Sebastian Bach.

The audience will hear Bach's Brandenburg Concertos performed by the Budapest Strings, and solo works performed by excellent Hungarian musicians, Kristóf Baráti, Miklós Perényi and Dénes Várjon.

Bach's church cantatas became a common fixture in concert halls as modern concerts took shape. But in order to understand the pieces themselves and the purpose they served, we must be aware of their original function.

The church cantata sought to use art to improve the spiritual lives of believers: the music was thought to elevate and deepen self-awareness, inspiring hope and repentance through its soul-stirring beauty and truth.

This purpose should be kept in mind when listening to the outstanding German baritone, Michael Volle, and his accomplished partner, the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, in their carefully crafted programme comprised of Bach cantatas.

Place: Palace Of Arts

Address: 1095 Budapest, Komor Marcell utca 1.