Bach Festivals & Cantata Series
Bath Bach Festival / Bath Bachfest

Name:

Bath Bach Festival / Bath Bachfest (since 2012)

Location:

Bath, England, UK

Venues:

Bath Abbey
Assembly Rooms
Guildhall

Years:

Since 1950

Months:

September-October
February (2012)

Artistic Director:

Bath Bachfest Patron: Elizabeth Bates
Artistic Director: Amelia Freedman (CBE, FRAM)

Ensembles:

Internationally renowned Baroque performers, ensembles, choirs & orchestras
Chantry Singers (1995-2010) [no longer exist]

Website:

Bath Bachfest (Official Website)
Bath Festival - The Chantry Singers [no longer exists]

History & Mission:

Bach Festivals at Bath have been part of the city’s cultural tradition since 1950. Cuthbert Bates founded the Bach Festival and was the Artistic Director of seven week-long Festivals, until his final presentation in 1977.
Later, in 1995, Elizabeth Bates decided to continue the tradition established by her father and so, with the support of her choir, the Chantry Singers, one of the leading small choirs in the South West, seven more Bach Festivals once again graced the city’s music calendar. They were intermittent events but with a very large and loyal following, culminating with the final Festival in October 2010. These Festivals were a great artistic success, but the finality of the 2010 event was inevitably tinged with sadness for many people.
So, in 2012 the Mozartfest Team is able to continue the Bach Festival tradition in Bath.
In the words of Raymond Leppard, the Chantry Singers’ President: “…. and even if the Chantry Singers has closed its doors, the heritage is there and others will follow ”.

Recent Festivals:

Oct 17 & 22, Oct 29, 2005
Oct 16-23, 2010

Feb 24-25, 2012

Logo:

Source: Callaway Center Archive, University of Western Australia Website; Chantry Singers Website; Various other websites; Bath Bachfest Website (2012); Emma Cross, Administrator, Bath Mozartfest & Bath Bachfest (January-February 2012)

Prepared by Aryeh Oron (October 2009 - February 2012)