THE GENIUS OF BACH WILL BE CELEBRATED IN SALZBURG

The festival takes place in cooperation with the New Bach Society Leipzig and the 83rd Bach Festival Society 2008 Ltd. from 4 to 20 October 2008
THE BACH FESTIVAL – Long planned and now reality. In its 83rd year the renowned BACHFEST (Bach Festival) will take place in Salzburg. The New Bach Society in Leipzig is responsible for the administration of the festival which goes to places that have shown special services to Johann Sebastian Bach, the Thomaskantor. Albert Hartinger founded the Salzburg Bach Society over thirty years ago and has worked untiringly to organise concerts focusing on Bach. Now the society has received the highly sought-after recognition of organising the Bach Festival. The Baroque city of Salzburg, the city of music and festivals, is particularly well endowed with a variety of venues ideal for performing music by Johann Sebastian Bach.

THE BAROQUE CITY – The prince-archbishops of Salzburg created a “Rome of the North” with Baroque and Renaissance architecture in a city at a crossroads between north and south, east and west in the Alpine foreland. The magnificent splendour of the cathedral, archiepiscopal residence and several palaces is in marked contrast to the narrow Mediaeval streets. Here you can experience how the backdrop is music in stone, just as Bach’s works are architecture in music. Two conceptions of Christian celebration, the divine beauty of Bach’s compositions and the splendour of Salzburg of the Counter-Reformation, are reconciled here.

THE CITY OF MUSIC, THE CITY OF FESTIVALS – The Baroque court with its rich artistic life brought together international artists such as Georg Muffat and Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber. The ground was prepared for Wolfgang Amadé Mozart. It is well known that Mozart knew and admired Bach’s work, and in a way was indirectly a student of the great master.
The Salzburg Festival was founded here almost ninety years ago and attracts visitors from all over the world. Bach is the bridge: he is the link between Baroque and classical as well as exemplifying the history and presence of music. Hosting the Bach Festival 2008 is the international culmination of the work of the Salzburg Bach Society.

BACH FESTIVAL 2008 – SALZBURG CELEBRATES THE GENIUS
From 4 to 20 October 2008 Salzburg will become a Bach metropolis. In selecting the performing artists Albert Hartinger can draw on the large circle of virtuosi he has built up during the long years of successful Bach concerts. BENJAMIN SCHMID will perform Bach’s works for solo violin on two evenings. Other artists and ensembles include the CAMERATA SALZBURG conducted by CHRISTOPHE COIN, the L’ORFEO BAROCKORCHESTER under MICHI GAIGG, the ensemble QUATUOR MOSAIQUES, the SALZBURG MOZARTEUM ORCHESTRA and the SALZBURG BACH CHOIR conducted by IVOR BOLTON. The culmination and highlight of the Bach Festival 2008 will be a performance by NIKOLAUS HARNONCOURT, the ARNOLD SCHOENBERG CHOIR and the CONCENTUS MUSICUS of Bach cantatas on 20 October.

HISTORICAL AMBIENCE – Performances will take place in Salzburg’s festival halls as well as in the historic Great Hall of the Benedictine University. Organ concerts, cantatas and motets will be performed in Salzburg’s churches. A special series of performances known as the ORGAN PATH will start out from the Parish Church of Mülln and then lead on via the Franciscan and Cajetan Churches to the cathedral.
RICH AND VARIED PROGRAMME – Besides concerts, special attention will be given to activities for young people. On several days throughout the Bach Festival there will be concerts with young musicians entitled Bach for Young People. A SYMPOSIUM organised jointly by the MOZARTEUM ARTS UNIVERSITY and the PARIS LODRON UNIVERSITY OF SALZBURG will discuss the performance and interpretation of Bach’s music and his continuing influence today. Composers have been commissioned to write new works which, it is hoped, will create a bridge with the present. Another special attraction will be Bach and Jazz with JACQUES LOUSSIER and his Play Bach Trio. Salzburg’s historical surroundings, from Goldegg, Tittmoning to Laufen, will also be included in the festival and host some performances.

Professor Albert Hartinger as artistic director, and Honorary Professor Lutz Hochstraate as managing director are responsible for organising the Bach Festival in Salzburg. A broad base of supporting partners ensures that it will go ahead smoothly and successfully. The city and regional authorities of Salzburg have to be mentioned first and foremost here, as well as the archdiocese and the Protestant Church. Media representatives have also promised extensive coverage. Special exhibitions will be mounted in the Salzburg Museum; the Paris Lodron and Mozarteum universities are closely involved as well as the Youth Department of the regional government, the Musikum music school and partners from business in and around Salzburg.

Service – Information, contact and ticket reservations:
Managing director: Professor Lutz Hochstraate
Bachfest 2008-GmbH
Kaigasse 36/1
5020 Salzburg
Tel.: +43 662 435371-0
Fax: +43 662 435371-4
E-mail: info@bachfest2008.at
www.bachfest2008.at