Bach, the Universe and Everything: Mapping the Dark Universe

Mache dich, mein Geist, bereit (Make yourself ready, my spirit, BWV 115) carries a timelessly relevant message for the citizenry to be alert to malicious intentions.

Meanwhile, out in the Universe an epic cosmic battle is playing out between dark energy and dark matter. The gravity of dark matter is slowly pulling structures in the Universe together whilst dark energy fuels the Universe’s accelerated expansion, making it ever harder for those structures to grow. Catherine Heymans will explore this dark enigma and explain why she thinks in order to truly understand the dark side of the Universe, we will need some new physics that will forever change our cosmic view.

We begin our season-long survey of choral works by Orlando Gibbons with what Edmund Fellowes, a leading editor of the Tudor music revival, described as ‘one of the most perfect penitential anthems’.

In 2022 Catherine Heymans was diagnosed with Long Covid that has restricted her ability to travel. She will appear by video link for this event which will include a special live Q&A with Catherine.

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