Bach Festivals & Cantata Series
Würzburger Bachtage

Name:

Würzburger Bachtage

Location:

Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany

Venues:

Main Venues
The Würzburger Bachtage an annual music festival held in late autumn, takes place primarily at four central venues in Würzburg: takes place onvarious historical and modern event venues throughout Würzburginstead. The four central venues used for the performances are:
St. Johannis: This Protestant church in the heart of the city is one of the main stages for performances, including cantatas and larger choral works.
Residenz Würzburg (Toskanasaal): This famous Baroque hall traditionally serves as the backdrop for the official opening ceremony and intimate chamber concerts.
Hochschule für Musik Würzburg: The university's auditorium and concert halls are primarily used for benefit concerts by young artists and master-classes.
Augustinerkirche: Used for special formats such as matinees, children's concerts, and as an additional event location..
Mozartareal: One of the newer event locations for the festival. Used for special formats such as matinees, children's concerts, and as an additional event location.
Additional Venues
St. Kilian's Cathedral (Dom St. Kilian) & St. Stephen's Church: These are regularly used for large choral concerts, opening masses and performances of Bach's great oratorios.

Years:

Since 1969 (Annual Festival)

Months:

November-December

Artistic Director:

Günter Jena (Founder & first Director: 1969-1974)
Heribert Breuer (1974-1979)
Christian Kabitz (1979-2015)
Matthias Querbach (2016-2020)
Regine Schlereth (interim: 2021-2022)
Hae-Kyung Jung (2023-Present)

Ensembles:

Resident Performing Ensembles
Würzburger Bach-Chor: Founded in 1961, this approximately 45-member concert choir forms the backbone of the festival's major choral works and vocal presentations. Since 2023, the choir has been directed by Kantor Hae-Kyung Jung.
Bachorchester Würzburg: An established instrumental ensemble that frequently collaborates with the choir and festival soloists for major oratorios and cantata performances.
Bachchor Würzburg
Typical Guest Ensembles
The festival frequently invites specialized and internationally renowned performing groups, varying yearly based on the festival's theme. Historical and returning guest ensembles include:
Specialized Baroque & Chamber Groups: Ensembles such as La strada Armónica, Münchner Bachsolisten, Freiburger Barockorchester, or Bachorchester barock frequently supply historical performance practice.
Vocal Ensembles: Esteemed guest choirs, such as the Windsbacher Knabenchor, are regularly programmed for vocal and choral concerts.
Quartets & Soloists: The festival's chamber and jazz programs feature highly specialized smaller groups, such as the Jannis-Krüger-Quartett (for "Bach meets Jazz") and guest instrumentalists on strings and keyboards.

Website:

Würzberger Bachtage

History & Mission:

The Würzburger Bachtage is a highly acclaimed annual classical music festival in Würzburg, Germany, dedicated to celebrating the legacy of J.S. Bach. Founded in 1968, it highlights how J.S. Bach's music bridges historical traditions with modern inspiration, often pairing his works with compositions by other prominent artists.
History
The festival was initiated by Günter Jena, the founder of the renowned Würzburger Bach-Chor, as a way to deeply engage with different interpretations of J.S. Bach's oeuvre.
Under the long-standing artistic direction of Kantor Christian Kabitz (since 1979), the festival expanded its format. A key hallmark of his tenure has been intentionally contrasting J.S. Bach's work with the compositions of a different guest composer every festival season.

Continuing this trajectory, the festival features renowned guest soloists and ensembles performing in various historic and cultural venues across the city, such as the Hochschule für Musik Würzburg and the Toskanasaal of the Würzburg Residence.
Core Mission
Connecting Tradition & Future: The festival’s mission is to showcase the timelessness of J.S. Bach's repertoire while inviting audiences to explore new interpretations and modern influences.
Multidisciplinary Exploration: It goes beyond traditional concerts by hosting worship services, youth outreach, and interdisciplinary performances.
Community Enrichment: Through various venues and educational formats, the festival aims to foster an engaging community of musicians, scholars, and classical music lovers.

Recent Festivals:

31^st Festival: Nov 19-28, 1999
32^nd Festival: Nov 25-Dec 3, 2000
33^rd Festival: Nov 24-Dec 2, 2001
34^th Festival: Nov 23-Dec 1, 2002
35^th Festival: Nov 22-30, 2003
36^th Festival: Nov 20-29, 2004
37^th Festival: Nov 23-27, 2005
38^th Festival: Nov 25-Dec 5, 2006
39^th Festival: Nov 24-Dec 2, 2007
40^th Festival: Nov 22-30, 2008

41^st Festival: Nov 21-30, 2009
42^nd Festival: Nov 19-28, 2010
43^rd Festival: Nov 18-27, 2011
44^th Festival: Nov 22-Dec 4, 2012
45^th Festival: Nov 22-Dec 1, 2013
46^th Festival: Nov 21-30, 2014
47^th Festival: Nov 21-29, 2015
48^th Festival: Nov 17-27, 2016
49^th Festival: Nov 23-Dec 3, 2017
50^th Festival: Nov 22-Dec 2, 2018

51^st Festival: Nov 21-Dec 1, 2019
52^nd Festival: 2020 (Cancelled, Covid-19)
53^rd Festival: Nov 18-28, 2021
54^th Festival: Nov 17-27, 2022
55^th Festival: Nov 23-Dec 3, 2023
56^th Festival: Nov 21-Dec 1, 2024
57^th Festival: Nov 20-30, 2025
57^th Festival: Nov 19-29, 2026

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