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Bach Festivals & Cantata Series
Bethlehem Bach Festival

Name:

Bethlehem Bach Festival (Annual Festival)
Bach at Noon (Free Cantata Series)

Location:

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA

Venues:

Central Moravian Church, Historic Downtown Bethlehem
First Presbyterian Church of Allentown
First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem
Baker Hall, Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University, Bethlehem
Packer Memorial Church, Lehigh University, Bethlehem
Peter Hall, Moravian College, Bethlehem

Years:

Inaugurated in 1900 and held annually from 1912

Months:

Festival: May
Cantata Series: September-April

Artistic Director:

J. Fred Wolle (1898-1933)
Bruce Carey (1933-1939)
Ifor Jones (1939-1969)
Alfred Mann (1969-1980)
William Reese (1980-1983)
Greg Funfgeld (1983-Present)

Ensembles:

Bach Choir of Bethlehem
The Bach Festival Orchestra

Website:

The Bach Choir of Bethlehem (Official Website)

History & Mission:

The Moravians, who settled in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1741, brought to the region a religious heritage greatly enriched by music. The Bethlehem Choral Union (renamed the Bach Choir of Bethlehem in 1898) gave the first complete American performances of many of J.S. Bach's major choral works during the 1880's and 1890's. The Bethlehem Bach Festival, which began in 1912, takes place in May and each year presents the Mass in B minor (BWV 232) and other choral and instrumental works.

Source: Article by John Butt in Oxford Composer Companion - J.S. Bach, edited by Malcolm Boyd (Oxford University Press, 1999)

Recent Festivals:

1st Festival: Mar 27, 1900
2nd Festiva: May 23-25, 1901
No Festival: 1902
3rd Festival: May 11-16, 1903
4th Festival: Dec 29-30, 1904 (Christmas)
5th Festival: Apr 12-14, 1905 (Lenten)
6th Festival: Jun 1-3, 1905 (Easter & Ascension)
No Festivals: 1906-1911
7th Festival: May 31-Jun 1, 1912
8th Festival: May 30-31, 1913
9th Festival: May 29-30, 1914
10th Festival: May 28-29, 1915

11th Festival: May 26-27, 1916
12th Festival: Jun 1-2, 1917
13th Festival: May 24-25, 1918
14th Festival: Jun 6-7, 1919
15th Festival: May 28-29, 1920
16th Festival: May 27-28, 1921
17th Festival: May 26-27, 1922
18th Festival: May 25-26, 1923
No Festival: 1924
19th Festival: May 29-30, 1935
20th Festival: May 14-15, 1926

21st Festival: May 13-14, 1927
22nd Festival: May 11-12, 1928
23rd Festival: May 10-11, 1929
24th Festival: May 16-17, 1930
25th Festival: May 15-16, 1931
26th Festival: May 13-14, 1932
No Festival: 1933
27th Festival: May 11-12, 1934
28th Festival: May 17-18, 1935
29th Festival: May 22-23, 1936
30th Festival: May 28-29, 1937

31st Festival: May 27-28, 1938
32nd Festival: May 19-20, 1939
33rd Festival: May 17-18, 1940
34th Festival: May 16-17, 1941
35th Festival: May 15-16, 1942
36th Festival: May 14-15, 1943
37th Festival: May 19-20, 1944
38th Festival: May 18-19, 1945
39th Festival: May 17-18, 1946
40th Festival: May 16-17, 1947

41st Festival: May 14-15, 1948
42nd Festival: May 20-28, 1949
43rd Festival: May 19-27, 1950
44th Festival: May 17-26, 1951
45th Festival: May 15-24, 1952
46th Festival: May 14-23, 1953
47th Festival: May 13-22, 1954
48th Festival: May 19-28, 1955
49th Festival: May 10-19, 1956

101st Festival: 2008
102nd Festival: 2009
103rd Festival: May 7-15, 2010
104th Festival: May 6-14, 2011
105th Festival: May 4-12, 2012
106th Festival: May 3-11, 2013
107th Festival: May 2-10, 2014
108th Festival: May 1-9, 2015
109th Festival: May 14-22, 2016

Logo:


1933

1952

Sep 15, 2009


Source: Bach Choir of Bethlehem Website

Prepared by Aryeh Oron (October 2009 - March 2016)

Ifor Jones: Short Biography | Bach Choir of Bethlehem | Recordings of Vocal Works | BWV 232 - Ifor Jones | Bethlehem Bach Festival

Greg Funfgeld: Short Biography | Bach Choir of Bethlehem | Recordings of Vocal Works | Bethlehem Bach Festival | General Discussions


Bach Festivals & Cantata Series: Main Page: Countries A-I | Page 2: Countries J-Z | Schedule of Concerts of Bach's Vocal Works
Links to Bach Festivals | Links to Bach Organizations & Societies | Discussions of Bach Festivals & Cantata Concerts
Major Bach Events: Year 2020 | Year 2019 | Year 2018 | Year 2017 | Year 2016 | Year 2015 | Year 2014 | Year 2013 | Year 2012 | Year 2011 | Year 2010 | Year 2009




 

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Last update: Friday, February 22, 2019 13:49