Welcome to the 14th Bath Bachfest, this year six concerts celebrating the music of J S Bach and his Baroque contemporaries.
We will start with an additional short concert featuring one of the world’s most acclaimed organists. Olivier Latry, organist at Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral, will play a programme of Bach plus French works from Couperin and Marchand.
Then we welcome back Florilegium, who make their concert a family affair with the music of J S Bach, his son Carl Philipp Emanuel and their friend and godfather, Georg Telemann. They will be joined by mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston.
Friday lunchtime’s programme entitled A Shakespeare Miscellany with countertenor Robin Blaze, lutenist Elizabeth Kenny and actor Dickon Tyrrell promises a fascinating look at Shakespeare’s use of music, with readings and musical settings.
Rachel Podger is an outstanding exponent of the Baroque violin, and with Brecon Baroque brings together a remarkable ensemble of the finest period-instrument players.
Our full-length Saturday morning concert brings together Adrian Brendel, one of the most respected contemporary cellists, and Mahan Esfahani, probably today’s greatest advocate of the harpsichord.
Then to Bach’s great B Minor Mass, described by its first publisher as “one of the greatest musical works of art of all times and nations”. It is central to the artistic mission of The English Concert, led here by Principal Guest Director Kristian Bezuidenhout.
Thank you so much for supporting Bath Bachfest, and I look forward to sharing with you a mid-winter treat of fine Baroque music.
Amelia Freedman CBE, FRAM, Artistic Director
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