SamBach
Project of Linus Roth and the Rio de Janeiro-based Johann Sebastian Rio orchestra featuring works by Bach, Villa-Lobos and the original transcriptions of popular melodies.
After successful collaborations on concerts and video recordings, Linus Roth and the Brazilian orchestra Johann Sebastian Rio have created a new program. This project included two concerts at the Sala Cecilia Meirelles in Rio de Janeiro, followed by the recording of an album recently released by the Evil Penguin label. SamBach is a musical journey where Linus Roth and the Johann Sebastian Rio orchestra guide listeners from the music of J.S. Bach through the works of Heitor Villa-Lobos to Brazil’s most popular sambas. Famous samba melodies were arranged by Ivan Zandonade, the ensemble’s solo violist.
Through the series of videos, SamBach brought together music lovers of classical music and Brazilian rhythms. Recordings went viral on social media, some of them reaching over 3,2 million views.
The full house concert at the renowned Rheingau Musik Festival this year was followed by the first European tour of Linus Roth and Johann Sebastian Rio in 2025. At the turn of August and September 2026, we are preparing the second European tour, during which the ensemble will present a newly expanded programme with fresh samba arrangements created especially for this occasion.
The performance is captivating in every respect.
Pizzicato
…in a class of its own – bouncy, bubbling, sparkling.
Concerti.de
Danger of addiction!
During such moments, one is easily led to believe that rarely have Baroque and bossa nova coexisted in such a dynamic and harmonious way.
Gramophone