Dare to fight an epic counterpoint battle with the one and only J. S. Bach? Well, if the story is correct, the Baroque composer Sylvius Leopold Weiss did exactly that-on the lute, no less! One of the best lutenists of his day, Weiss met Johann Sebastian through his son Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, and apparently this plucky fellow challenged the great Bach at playing fantasies and fugues. Weiss also holds the unique distinction of writing over a thousand pieces for the lute, and lucky for us, over 850 of them have survived. Join Vlad Smishkewych as he celebrates Lutefest Sunday on Vox Nostra, and you’ll get to hear some of the best of Weiss’ music thanks to the playing of today’s finest lutenists.
RTÉ lyric fm, Sunday 16th October, 7am-10am