The BBC makes a compelling case for why Johann Sebastian Bach, almost 300 years after his death, remains the godfather of classical music. “Conflict, friendship, despair, joy, his music encompasses what can only be described as the everything-ness of everything.”

Judge for yourself when masterpieces from the Bach canon are presented this month at Symphony Center. First up, pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard performs Book 1 of Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier in an SCP Piano Series recital at 3 p.m. Nov. 9. Then guest conductor Nicholas Kraemer leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in five performances Nov. 20-25 of the complete Brandenburg Concertos. Symphony Center’s season of “Bachanalia” continues with Gil Shaham in Bach’s complete violin Sonatas and Partitas on March 1, the CSO with guest conductor Harry Bicket in Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3 on April 30 and May 1-2, and pianist Orli Shaham in Bach’s Partita No. 1 in B-Flat Major on May 31.

To read the full BBC article, click here.

 PHOTO: Statue of Johann Sebastian Bach outside St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Germany.