Bach Festival in Leipzig

About Event

The date of the event is unique for each year. In 2021, the date is June 11.

The Bachfest Leipzig is an international music festival and Germany’s most prestigious festival dedicated to the great German composer Johann Sebastian Bach. It takes place annually in Leipzig in mid-June and lasts ten days.

It should be noted that there are several festivals dedicated to Bach in Germany every year, but the one in Leipzig is the most famous. For many years it has been a resounding success and is in demand among admirers of the work of the great composer. Many well-known musicians and music lovers of “timeless music” from all over the world come here.

Of course, Leipzig is a city famous for its cultural traditions – it is not only connected with the name of Bach – at different times Mendelssohn, Schumann and Schiller lived here. But it is in Leipzig that Bach lived and worked most fruitfully – for over 20 years he played the organ in the Church of St. Thomas and directed the boys’ choir. Here too – in front of the church – stands a statue of Bach, and he is buried under the altar of the church.

Bachfest Leipzig – a festival with a long tradition. It was first held in 1904 and was initiated by members of the “Neue Bachgesellschaft” association of admirers. Since 1908, the City Hall of Leipzig has taken over the organization of the event. Although the festival was not held every year, it was held quite regularly. Already since the 1920s the slogan “Leipzig – City of Music” appeared. However, it was not until the mid-1990s that it was officially decided to hold Bachfest Leipzig annually. The festival is organised by the Leipzig Bach Archive and the City of Leipzig’s City Hall. The festival was conducted on a particular scale in 2000 – the year of the 250th anniversary of Bach’s death. In subsequent years it has become increasingly popular, the number of guests has increased and the festival programme has become ever more diverse and eventful.

Each year the festival is dedicated to a special theme associated with Bach’s music. Since the music of the great composer needs no “festival” reason to be performed, the organizers at times go in search of the origins of Bach’s music, and at times turn to its context. For example, the theme of the 2004 festival was “Bach and Romanticism”, when the concerts featured works by Bach alongside music by Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms; and in 2005 it was “Bach and the Future”, with Ligeti and Zimmermann, Xenakis and Stockhausen alongside Bach… Mendelssohn and R. Schumann, the 2011 Bach Festival in Leipzig commemorated two more outstanding musicians – Franz Liszt (200th anniversary of his birth) and H. Mahler (100 years since his death). 2012 marked the 800th anniversary of the day music was first heard in St. Thomas Cathedral, while 2014 marked the 300th anniversary of the birth of Carl Philippe Emmanuel. 2015 marked the 1,000th anniversary of the city of Leipzig itself; in 2017, the festival was dedicated to Martin Luther and the theme of the Reformation. In 2018, the theme of the festival was “Cycles” – it was Bach’s predilection for cyclical forms and groups of works in which he systematically explores the compositional possibilities of a single theme or a particular genre that prompted the organizers to choose this theme. In 2019, the theme of the festival is Bach, the Court Composer.

A total of about 100 concerts and various performances take place during the festival. The main place in the program is taken by musical works of the 19th century, but the public is offered not only organ and church music, but also chamber concerts and jazz interpretations. The festival participants also present their own programs dedicated to the works of Bach.

The music program of the festival is organically supplemented by various cultural events related to the person of Bach. There are, for example, concert excursions to the suburbs of Leipzig where the composer was often present, competitions for young performers, film screenings, an exhibition of Bach manuscripts and documents, lectures and lectures, and an excellent culinary program. Another of the festival’s highlights, which has become a tradition in recent years (since 2003) is the presentation of the Bach Medal to outstanding musicians. The medal is made of Meissen porcelain.

Bachfest Leipzig is one of the highlights of the year. It secures Leipzig’s fame as the music capital of Germany. After all, Bach welcomes everyone. His music makes you think about life and death, about good and evil, about the meaning of life and what we live for.