Festive and French: The Leipzig Bach Festival is opened | Music | '
At a fast tempo, the rows of sound sparkle, then the organ sound unfolds imposing and festive in set chords. Ulrich Böhme has often played the fantasy in G major by Johann Sebastian Bach. For 33 years he has been organist of the Thomaskirche Leipzig, where Johann Sebastian Bach was once Thomaskantor. "Every year I open the Bach Festival, the first piece that sounds is an organ piece and that goes well with Leipzig as Bachstadt."
Bach music is in demand internationally
Opening of the Bach Festival traditionally in the Leipzig Thomaskirche
"Hof-Compositeur Bach", this year is the motto of the international Leipzig Bach Festival, which is organized by the Leipzig Bach Archive. Guests from 44 countries have come this year to experience the music of the Baroque master at original locations. More than 150 events with concerts, specialist lectures, student activities as well as film and media projects complete the program.
Most overseas guests come from the US, Japan and Australia. Intendant Michael Maul is particularly pleased about the increasing number of visitors from Colombia. "Maybe that's because the Colombians are organizing a Bach festival in Bogota in two years." As already thought of a small cooperation.
Bach at princely courtyards with music from the world
With so much international flair, it makes sense to even think outside the box with Johann Sebastian Bach. After all, his compositions were influenced by European trends. Because Bach was not only Thomaskantor in Leipzig, but before that also worked for 15 years at various courts. He has written worldly festivals and virtuoso instrumental works for princes and dukes, such as the famous Brandenburg Concertos. He was particularly influenced by his time at the court of the Dukes of Saxe-Weimar, where he also wrote the organ fantasy in G major.
Thomas organist Ulrich Böhme conjured a French sound from the Central German Baroque Organ
Although Bach never got far beyond his home region, in Weimar the musical world met in the 18th century. The courtly music from Versailles had particularly impressed Bach. "This fantasy in G major has been given a French title by Bach" Pièce d'orgue ", ie an organ piece with headlines in French," explains Ulrich Böhme. Therefore, the organist chose the registers of his organ so that the sound was very French festive.
Thomaner learn French Latin
The St. Thomas choir, which is traditionally present at the opening concert, had to adapt to the French spirit. After Bach's organ work, director Michael Maul put the "Te Deum" by French baroque composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier on the program. "The play breathes this pomp and spirit of Versailles with this opening march that everyone knows," he says. The beginning theme with timpani and trumpets is known in Europe from television as the "Eurovision anthem" and always sounds when broadcasts are broadcast live to several European countries simultaneously.
Tomaskantor Gotthold Schwarz (left) and director of Bachfest Michael Maul
Four soloists and a selection of Thomanersänger presented the choral and vocal passages. They were accompanied by the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, which played on old instruments and thus developed a particularly authentic sound. The Thomaner convinced in a clear voice over long phrases. Thomas Kantor Gotthold Schwarz had carefully rehearsed everything. "Of course we dealt with the ornamentation practice and the pronunciation of how French Latin is to be spoken," he explained after the concert. "At first this met with skepticism, but then it was so much fun that it developed an uncanny elegance."
Music, sparkling like champagne
The Thomaner and the Freiburger Barockorchester on the large organ loft
The Freiburg Baroque Orchestra was able to shine in the subsequent Bach Overture in B major. In addition to the timpani and trumpets Anne-Katherina Schreiber mastered the solo passages with the strings virtuously on her violin. Intendant Michael Maul coined the winged word of the day for this festive overture to the world-famous "Air" by Bach: "The music is therefore as sparkling as champagne out of notes".
In the subsequent cantata "Our mouth was full of laughter" stood all Thomaner on the gallery and slammed versed the high notes. Thomaskantor Gotthold Schwarz was satisfied. "This music goes into the soul and the heart and also has a real statement that appeals to the audience".
Where Bach is on it is almost always Bach in it
The Bachfest continues until June 23rd. Because the "Kantaten-Ring" was a great success last year, a series of 16 sacred Bach cantatas, written at the Weimar court, will be heard in five concerts.
The Michael Wollny Trio live at the BachStage in Leipzig
Open-air concerts take place free of charge on the Leipzig market square, and it's not all about Bach. For the opening, the German jazz pianist Michael Wollny improvised with his trio. The actor and musician Christian von Richthofen – known for spectacular stage events – will show in his performance "Auto Auto – Bach driving crazy" which sounds can be lured out of a car with a truncheon and a saw.
"We are Family", 2020
While the Bachfest 2019 has just begun, the plans for 2020 are already in full swing. Under the motto "We are Family" it is of course about music from the Bach family. However, Michael Maul wants to expand this family and has invited Bach choirs from all over the world. The crowd was bigger than expected. 48 Bach choirs from 23 countries have already made a commitment to perform. It should become a festival of superlatives. "In the Leipzig Arena fit up to 115,000 people, because we want to organize a joint party," says Maul. "We are also planning a very crazy performance of the St. John Passion with probably 3000 singers in the market place".
And because Beethoven year is 2020, Beethoven's church works will also be heard. After all, according to Michael Maul, Beethoven is also part of the big Bach family. So much continuity is certain: Ulrich Böhme will also open the next Bach Festival with an impressive organ piece.
ليست هناك تعليقات