We begin the new year with vigorous resolve with 'Was mein Gott will, das g’scheh allzeit' (BWV 111), inspired by the story of the faithful centurion.

The cantata was composed in 1725 in Leipzig for the third Sunday after Advent. The chorale upon which it is based is a hymn dating back to pre-Reformation days and is woven into pieces by several composers Bach admired including Lassus and Schutz. Its distinctive melodic shape and harmony elicit great energy in Bach’s writing whilst its central duet for alto and tenor depict two souls drawing close to heaven.

Hannah Wakeford from the University of Bristol (and co-author of Bang!! The Complete History of the Universe with Chris Lintott and Brian May) will take us on a journey to explore how measuring the atmosphere of exoplanets around far away stars using telescopes like Hubble and the James Webb to understand their climate and environments offers a window onto our own solar system.