Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a German composer and organist of the late Baroque period, widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in the history of Western music. His output spans virtually every genre of his era - from the Brandenburg Concertos and orchestral suites to the Mass in B minor, the St. Matthew Passion, and keyboard works such as the Goldberg Variations and The Well-Tempered Clavier. Bach spent the last 27 years of his life as Thomaskantor in Leipzig, directing music for the city's Lutheran churches. Felix Mendelssohn's 1829 revival of the St. Matthew Passion rekindled public interest in his work, and his reputation has only grown since.
Bachfest Leipzig 2025, held 12-22 June under the theme 'Transformation', featured over 200 events - the largest programme in the festival's history.
Around 1,000 schoolchildren gathered at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig on 21 March 2025 to mark Bach's 340th birthday with a special concert.
Churches and concert venues across Thuringia - including Arnstadt, Eisenach, Weimar and Mühlhausen - held birthday concerts and serenades for Bach's 340th anniversary.
The Bach-Archiv Leipzig celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2025, marking the occasion with a special exhibition titled 'Milestones of Bach Research' at the Bach Museum.
Bachfest Leipzig 2026 is running 11-21 June 2026, continuing the annual festival tradition in Bach's home city.
A baroque finale to the 29th Chamber Music Festival – concerts of works by Bach, Vivaldi, and Telemann performed by soloists of the Wratislavia Orchestra and Wratislavia Chamber Orchestra.
A series of concerts dedicated to the works of Johann Sebastian Bach at Frankfurt's prestigious concert hall.
Performance of Bach's Christmas Oratorio by Nederlands Kamerkoor and Cappella Mediterranea in Cologne.
Chor der Erlöserkirche and Camerata Instrumentale Berlin perform the first three parts of J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio at Konzerthaus Berlin.
An intimate evening with piano masters: a journey from Bach's mathematical perfection through the romanticism of Chopin and Rachmaninoff to 20th-century modernity.
Bach's St. John Passion performed at the iconic Michel church in Hamburg. One of the greatest masterworks of classical music.
A concert of Bach's music at Brucknerhaus in Linz.