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by Oliver Cotton (Author)
...one moment there's nothing. Then there's something. Your mind's blank - then there's an idea. From second to second. There it is, the germ of your cantata, your chorale, your partita. Out of the void. Out of nothing - to something. In a millionth of a second. A divine spark!
Spring 1747. Potsdam, Prussia. Johann Sebastian Bach reluctantly visits the court of Frederick II, Europe's most ambitious and dangerous leader. The two men could hardly be more different. As the Age of Enlightenment dawns, they stand in opposite camps. Bach is deeply religious, Frederick is an athiest. Bach loathes war, Frederick revels in it. Bach studies scripture, Frederick reads military history. However, Frederick remains in awe of Bach's genius and has mischievously prepared a musical conundrum that he hopes will baffle the composer and amuse his court. The explosive events of the following days could not have been predicted by either man. This edition was published to coincide with the West End production in February 2025.Author Biography
Oliver Cotton was born in London. As an actor he has played leading roles at the Royal National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Royal Court Theatre, The Old Vic and in London's West End. His many TV appearances include: The Borgias (Cesare Borgia), David Copperfield, The Year of The French, The Party, Redemption, Poirot, The Camomile Lawn, Westbeach, Sharpe's Battle, Rhodes, All Quiet on the Preston Front, Innocents, Judge John Deed, Inspector Lynley, Waking The Dead, MIT, Beastly Games, Midsomer Murders, Sensitive Skin (series 1 & 2), The Commander, Margaret. and Money. His films include: Here We go Round The Mulberry Bush, The Day Christ Died, Firefox, Oliver Twist, The Sicilian, Eleni, Hiding Out, Christopher Columbus, Son of the Pink Panther, The Innocent Sleep, Phoenix Blue, The Opium War, Beowulf, Baby Blue, The Dancer Upstairs, Shanghai Knights, The Bone Collector, Rain Dogs, Colour Me Kubrick, Pope Joan. His other writing includes: Man Falling Down for Shakespeare's Globe, The Incredible Journey of Sir Frances Younghusband and The Enoch Show both for the Royal Court Theatre. For the cinema he has written: Singing For Stalin, Vines, Wet Weather Cover and Deadline. For television he has written A Touch of Frost and Diamond Geezer.
