Bach Festivals & Cantata Series
Aschaffenburger Bachtage

Name:

Aschaffenburger Bachtage

Location:

Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, Germany

Venues:

Christuskirche
Kreuzkapelle Großostheim
Martinushaus
Festsaal ParkSchönbusch
Stiftsbasilika
Muttergottespfarrkirche
Wallfahrtskirche Schmerlenbach
Abfahrt Musikschule
Marienstift
Sandkirche

Years:

Since 1985 (Annual Festival)

Months:

July-August

Artistic Director:

The Aschaffenburger Bachtage, hosted by the Bachgesellschaft Aschaffenburg e. V., relies on a collaborative leadership structure rather than a single artistic director. The festival’s strategic and musical direction is overseen by an Artistic Advisory Board in tandem with the management.
Florian Reuthner serves as both the Managing Director and Artistic Leader.
Burkhard Fleckenstein served as the long-time Managing Ddirector of the Aschaffenburger Bachtage. Alongside his role leading the Städtische Musikschule, he was responsible for the festival's overall organization, funding, sponsorships, and conceptual development. He retired from this position in 2021.
Klaus Herzog, the former Lord Mayor of Aschaffenburg, has served as the official patron for the Aschaffenburger Bachtage.
Artistic Advisory Board: A team of professional musicians and cultural figures curates the programming. The board includes Renate Binschek, Katrin Ferenz, Caroline Prozeller, and Christoph Emanuel Seitz.

Ensembles:

The Aschaffenburger Bachtage is a renowned annual classical music festival in Aschaffenburg, Germany, dedicated to the works of J.S. Bach and his contemporaries. The festival regularly hosts a mix of prestigious guest performers and regional ensembles.
The prominent performing ensembles include:
Ensemble Inégal: A critically acclaimed Czech baroque ensemble that regularly features at the festival.
Bachcollegium Aschaffenburg: The festival’s dedicated instrumental ensemble, founded in 1990 to accompany the city's oratorio and cantata performances.
Kammerchor Ars Antiqua: A local chamber choir based in Aschaffenburg that often performs during the festival.
Barockorchester Armonia dell'Arcadia: A period-instrument orchestra from nearby Bamberg.
Michaelis Consort: An early music ensemble that makes frequent guest appearances at the festival.
Aschaffenburger Kantorei: Local choir

Website:

Aschaffenburger Bachtage [German]
Aschaffenburger Bachtage [German]

History & Mission:

The Aschaffenburger Bachtage is a prestigious classical music festival held annually in Aschaffenburg, Germany. It runs from late July to early August, featuring historically informed performances of works by J.S. Bach and his contemporaries, alongside masterclasses and a strong focus on local youth music education.
History
The festival was established in 1985 by a dedicated group of local music lovers and professional musicians who formed the Bachgesellschaft Aschaffenburg e.V..
The first official festival programs began shortly after, making it a staple of the regional cultural calendar.
Today, it attracts roughly 2,500 visitors annually, utilizing historic and acoustically rich venues across the Lower Franconia region.
Mission & Goals
Musical Promotion: The primary mission of the Bachgesellschaft is to foster the musical life of Aschaffenburg and the Lower Main region.
Artistic Excellence: The festival seeks to blend international, world-renowned soloists and ensembles with local talent.
Youth & Education: A key objective is the promotion of young musicians. The festival regularly incorporates local conservatory students and initiatives into its programming.
Thematic Exploration: Rather than just standard performances, the festival explores thematic connections. It highlights the influence of Bach's contemporaries and geographical contexts to give audiences a richer understanding of Baroque and classical traditions.

Recent Festivals:

18^th Festival: Jul 24-Aug 1, 2004
19^th Festival: Jul 24-31, 2005
81^st NBG: Bachfest: Jul 28-Aug 6, 2006
20^th Festival: Jul 22-29, 2007

21^st Festival: Jul 27-Aug 3, 2008
22^nd Festival: Jul 25-Aug 2, 2009
23^rd Festival: Jul 24-Aug 1, 2010
24^th Festival: Jul 23-31, 2011
25^th Festival: Jul 28-Aug 5, 2012
26^th Festival: Jul 27-Aug 4, 2013
27^th Festival: Jul 26-Aug 3, 2014
28^th Festival: Jul 25-Aug 2, 2015
29^th Festival: Jul 23-31, 2016
30^th Festival: Jul 23-31, 2017

31^st Festival: Jul 21-29, 2018
32^nd Festival: Jul 27-Aug 8, 2019
33^rd Festival: Jul 18-26, 2020 > Jul 16-Aug 1, 2021
33^th Festival: Jul 16-Aug 1, 2021
34^th Festival: Jul 14-31, 2022
35^th Festival: Jul 15-30, 2023
36^th Festival: Jul 13-28, 2024
37^th Festival: Jul 3-31, 2025
38^th Festival: Jul 11-Aug 2, 2026

Logo: