Bach Festivals & Cantata Series
Bachtage Potsdam

Name:

Bachtage Potsdam
Formerly: Bach-Tage Berlin (until 1998 ?)

Location:

Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany

Venues:

Main Venue
Primary performances and presentations took place at Nikolaikirche Potsdam
Other venues
Schlosstheater Neues Palais: the historic Rococo-style theater built between 1763 and 1769, located inside the south wing of the massive Neues Palais
Schloss Glienicke
Filmmuseum Potsdam
Erlöserkirche Potsdam
Nikolauskirche Potsdam
Französische Kirche (French Church)
Barocke Friedrichkirche Babelsberg
Organgerie in Neue Garten
Garnisonkirche
Friedenkirche Sanssouci
Palais Lichtenau: a distinct, early Neoclassical building located at Kurfürstenstraße 40 in Potsdam, built in 1796-1797.

Years:

Since 1999 (Annual Festival)

Months:

2001-2012: mostly September
Since 2013: March -April

Artistic Director:

Björn O. Wiede (since 2001); also serves as Kantor and Director of Church Music at the historic Nikolaikirche Potsdam

Ensembles:

The Bachtage Potsdam frequently feature a mix of local ensembles, guest orchestras, and international artists. Ensembles that have performed at the festival include:
Bach EXXENTIAL: A dedicated Baroque ensemble that regularly supports the festival's concert series.
Ensemble Mriya: The Ukrainian Orchestra in Exile.
Ensemble Kima: Classical and chamber music instrumentalists.
Kammerakademie Potsdam: The resident chamber orchestra of Potsdam, which frequently performs at festival venues like the Nikolaisaal.
Additionally, numerous visiting soloists and ensembles such as the Europe Symphony Orchestra, Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra, Baroque Trumpet Ensemble Berlin, and the Nikolaichor Potsdam have been featured in the festival's varied programming, which spans from organ recitals to full orchestral cantatas.

Website:

Bachtage Potsdam (Official Website)
Bachtage Potsdam (Kulturfeste im Land Brandenburg)
Musik an St. Nikolai Potsdam on Facebook

History & Mission:

Bach-Tage Berlin (Bach Days)

Bach Days is a nine-day festival that pays tribute to the famous composer, but is not limited completely to his works.
The festival does focus on J.S. Bach, through orchestral, choral and chamber concerts, recitals and even lectures, but there are also other performances based on works by various composers, many of them from the 20^th-Century.
There are daily performances in numerous venues, including the Philharmonic Hall, the Charlottenburg Castle, St Matthew's Church and the Musical Instrument Museum.
Address: Bach Tage Berlin, VDMK Berlin
Bismarckstrasse 73, D-10627 Berlin, Germany

Bachtage Potsdam

Bach at Potsdam is a trasition since J.S. Bach's legendary 1747 visit. J.S. Bach's son Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach served for a period of 30 years as Cammermusiker and harpsichordist for Frederick the Great. Many artists have maintained the legacy of J.S. Bach in the following centuries, in Potsdam. Wilhelm Kempff founded in 1901 the Bach-Verein (Bach Society) in Potsdam. One hundred years later started the Bachtage Potsdam. In 2007, the Brandenburgische Bach-Gesellschaft (Brandenburg Bach Society) was founded. Bach in Sanssouci was celebrated for the first time in 2009. In 2010 the 325^th J.S. Bach's birthday was celebrated.

Bach in Sanssouci

Bach in Sanssouci is a concert series, which is supported by the Baroque ensemble Bach EXXENTIAL. Bach EXXENTIAL has been dedicated for many years to authentic performance practice of J.S. Bach's works. The ensemble brings together artists from different ensembles in Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, America, Hungary, England, Italy and Germany. They share a love of work in the authentic performance practice of J.S. Bach's works in 'simple' cast - One Voice (or Instrument) per Part.

Recent Festivals:

1^st Festival: Sep 2001
2^nd Festival: Aug 31-Sep 9, 2002
3^rd Festival: Sep 4-15, 2003
4^th Festival: Sep 11-19, 2004
5^th Festival: Sep 4-17, 2005
6^th Festival: Sep 1-9, 2006
7^th Festival: Sep 1-9, 2007
8^th Festival: Aug 30-Sep 13, 2008
9^th Festival: Sep 4-19, 2009
10^th Festival: Sep 3-11, 2010

11^th Festival: Sep 3-11, 2011
12^th Festival: Sep 2-10, 2012
13^th Festival: Mar 22-Apr 5, 2013
14^th Festival: Mar 22-Apr 5, 2014
15^th Festival: Mar 21-Apr 6, 2015
16^th Festival: Mar 22-Apr 5, 2016
17^th Festival: Apr 8-17, 2017
18^th Festival: Mar 23-Apr 2, 2018
19^th Festival: Mar 21-Apr 5, 2019
20^th Festival: Mar 22-Apr 5, 2020 (postponed/altered, Covid-19)

21^st Festival: Sep 12+Oct 1-3, 2021
22^nd Festival: Mar 20-Apr 20, 2022
23^rd Festival: Mar 22-Apr 5, 2023
24^th Festival: Mar 21-Apr 1, 2024
25^th Festival: Mar 28-Apr 20, 2025
26^th Festival: Mar 22-Apr 5, 2026

Logo: