From Court to Coffeehouse

Bach Society Houston is bringing From Court to Coffeehouse to Christ the King Lutheran Church on Friday, January 29, 2027, from 7 to 8:15 PM. The program is built around a specific habit Bach had in the 1730s, when he spent his Friday nights directing concerts at a Leipzig coffeehouse. The whole evening is a recreation of that world, pairing two of his instrumental works with a staged comedy.

On the instrumental side, there's the Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, known for its runaway harpsichord cadenza, and the Orchestral Suite No. 2, which contains the Badinerie—one of the most recognizable pieces of music from the Baroque era. Both are staples of the period, but they're played here as part of a larger evening rather than as standalone concert pieces.

The second half of the program is the Coffee Cantata, performed as a staged comedy. It's a lighthearted story about a daughter who simply cannot give up her coffee, and it's the piece that gives the whole night its title. Seeing it staged as a comedy changes the experience from a standard recital to something more like a short play, and it's the part of the evening that leans most directly into the coffeehouse atmosphere the program is recreating.

Tickets are $35 general and $10 for students. The concert runs from 7 to 8:15 PM at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 2353 Rice Blvd. in Rice Village.