It Could Have Been a Stellar Moment

German publicist and playwright Paul Barz brings together two composers who never actually met in his play. A fictional encounter between Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel takes place in Leipzig in 1747, three years before Bach's death - at a moment when the long-overlooked cantor of St. Thomas Church finally receives the recognition he sought his entire life.

Bach envies Handel his worldwide success, while Handel envies Bach his exceptional talent and a certain freedom - because every success comes at a price. As Handel's guest, Bach sits at a table laden with luxurious dishes, and the two engage in a witty, sharp dialogue about the meaning of art, about success and its cost, about the paradoxes of fame. Historical curiosities and celebrated compositions by both masters are woven throughout.