Thomas Enhco & Vassilena Serafimova

Everyone knows Elias Hoffmann’s famous portrait of Bach: that of a stern man in a wig, holding in his hand a fragment of a score. This official portrait gets the magic-mirror treatment, as Thomas Enhco and Vassilena Serafimova lead us on an enthralling creative exploration in the footsteps of the Cantor.

When we think of the weighty cultural authority of Johann Sebastian Bach, and the great paternal figure he represents, we can assume that a large portion of musical activity since the middle of the 18th century came "under the watchful eye of Johann Sebastian". Between homage and teasing irony, Pierre Schaeffer’s Bilude, Georges Aperghis’ B.W.V, and Mauricio Kagel’s Passion selon Saint Bach  have all played on the "saintly" image of Bach. On the strength of their rich artistic complicity and sonic imagination, Thomas Enhco and Vassilena Serafimova today seek to hold a different type of mirror to the art of Bach: not a rear-view into the past, but a new reflection on his legacy, by dressing it in new colours (marimba, for example) and revealing the extent to which his infinite plasticity can vitalize jazz. Looking Bach in the eyes  – and in the mirror – is to contemplate a rich heritage that musicians must celebrate, of course, but also extend through innovation and imagination.

Piano Thomas Enhco
Marimba Vassilena Serafimova

Transcriptions of Johann Sebastian Bach,
original works by Thomas Enhco and Vassilena Serafimova on a theme by Bach, improvisations…

Vassilena Serafimova (1985)
Miroirs 
Inspiré de J.-S. Bach – Sonate en trio pour orgue n°4 en mi mineur, BWV 528

Thomas Enhco (1988)
Fire Dance
Avec des citations de Cantate : Jésus que ma joie demeure, BWV 147

Johann-Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring / Jésus que ma joie demeure
Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, Cantata BWV 147
Transcription Thomas Enhco & Vassilena Serafimova

Thomas Enhco et Vassilena Serafimova
Vortex
Inspiré de J.-S. Bach – Partita pour violon en si mineur, BWV 1002 – Double

Johann-Sebastian Bach
Sonate en trio pour orgue n°3 en ré mineur, BWV 527 – Vivace
Transcription Thomas Enhco & Vassilena Serafimova

Thomas Enhco et Vassilena Serafimova
Chaconne
Inspiré de J.-S. Bach – Partita pour violon n°2, BWV 1004 – Chaconne

Johann-Sebastian Bach
Sonate pour violon et clavier en la majeur, BWV 1015 – Allegro assai
Transcription Thomas Enhco & Vassilena Serafimova
Improvisation Thomas Enhco

Thomas Enhco et Vassilena Serafimova
Silence
Inspiré de J.-S. Bach – Suite pour violoncelle seul n°4 en mi bémol majeur, BWV 1010 – Prélude

Thomas Enhco
Sur la Route
On the name of Bach / Sur le nom de Bach

Johann-Sebastian Bach
Cantata
Sheep May Safely Graze, BWV 208-IX
Transcription Thomas Enhco & Vassilena Serafimova

Johann-Sebastian Bach
Air
Suite pour orchestre n°3 en ré majeur : Air (sur la corde de sol), BWV 1068
Arrangement Thomas Enhco

Thomas Enhco et Vassilena Serafimova
Reflets
Inspiré de J.-S. Bach – Le Clavier bien tempéré, livre 1 – Prélude n°1, BWV 846

Thomas Enhco
Avalanche
Inspiré de J.-S. Bach – Le Clavier bien tempéré, livre 1 – Prélude n°2 BWV 847