The seventh, and final, Bach Festival takes place in Bath from October 16 to 23.
It marks the end of a 60 year tradition, begun in 1950 by Cuthbert Bates to commemorate the bicentenary of of Johann Sebastian Bach’s death.
Cuthbert died in 1980. Then in 1995 his daughter Elizabeth Bates decided to revive the festivals with her choir, The Chantry Singers.
She has now decided to retire after this festival and the choir will disband.
The festival will have as its ‘bookends’ two of Bach’s greatest works. It will oepning with the St Matthew Passion and conclude a week later with his monumental B Minor Mass.
Bath Abbey will be the setting for both these concerts. Others will be in the Guildhall and the Assembly Rooms.
Among the performers at the festival will be soprano Dame Emma Kirkby with the London Baroque, organist Dame Gillian Weir, organist David Briggs and The Academy of Ancient Music. More details from www.chantry-singers.org.uk
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