‘The fifth evangelist’, is the creator’s great herald, it is a monument unto itself; as are so many of his works. Even though the appreciation of Bach is different today, there are however dangers in having such a status. Not only are Bach’s works monuments of western music, they are in fact the vital starting point of musicology. Whose music has been arranged or used as a mine of ideas more often? Transcriptions and compositions relating to Bach are of importance in the world of music and shall be the focus of Thuringia’s Bach Festival.
Performances apart from those of the traditional Bach cultivation are going to attract attention at this year’s festival. The Heizwerk in Erfurt will be introduced as a new concert venue for the Chamber Orchestra Elbipolis. Elbipolis as well as the Solistensemble Kaleidoskop take us into a ‘Baroque Lounge’ where Bach’s music meets DJ samples. It is the combination of such experiments and concerts of historical performance practice that make up the concept of the Thuringia Bach Festival. It gives our festival that special character that has earned delightful recognition in the past.
This concept is acknowledged by Thüringer Tourismus GmbH, the Thuringian Ministry of Arts and Culture and the Thuringian Ministry of Economics, who have all given us tremendous support again this year. Our heartfelt thanks also go out to all the local communities, cooperation partners and patrons involved. It is thanks to their support that Bach is given well-deserved attention in his birthplace Thuringia and his legacy remains alive in this state which is at the heart of German culture.
A very warm welcome to all of you!
