Johann Sebastian Bach and Johann Adolph Hasse – the works and stylistics of the two composers could not be more different: religion and counterpoint encounter sensuous, erotic melodies. Hasse composed in the Italian style, Bach, on the other hand, never had the opportunity to travel to Italy, even though to do so was more or less obligatory for musicians in the 18th century. Bach however, knew Italian music very well, and arranged countless concertos by Vivaldi and Marcello. In Dresden he attended operas by Hasse with his oldest son, Wilhelm Friedemann. At the time, as his son Carl Philipp Emanuel reported, the two composers actually became friends. Apparently opposites really did attract! Stefan Temmingh, born in Cape Town, comes from a Dutch-South-African family of musicians. He is part of the young generation of world-class recorder players, and is often compared to the legendary Frans Brüggen. As an Early Music specialist he plays with his baroque ensemble, The Gentleman’s Band, at renowned festivals and concert series.

Benno Schachtner has succeeded in establishing himself as one of the most promising German countertenors. He is working regularly with René Jacobs, Hans-Christoph Rademann and Christoph Spering. Schachtner is the first countertenor in the history of prestigious Bach International Competition Leipzig to receive the title 'Bachpreisträger'.