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Bach Festivals & Cantata Series
Carmel Bach Festival

Name:

Carmel Bach Festival

Location:

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA

Venues:

Sunset Theater
Carmel Mission Basilica
All Saints Church
Church of the Wayfarer
Carmel Presbyterian Church
Church in the Forest in Pebble Beach

Years:

Since 1935 (Annual Festival)

Months:

July-August

Artistic Director:

Ernst Bacon (Guest Conductor, 1935)
Gastone Usigli (1938-1956)
Sandor Salgo (1956-1991)
Bruno Weil (1992-2010)
Paul Goodwin (from 2011)

Ensembles:

Carmel Bach Festival Chorale & Chorus
Carmel Bach Festival Orchestra

Website:

Carmel Bach Festival
Carmel Bach Festival on MySpace Music
Carmel-by-the-sea (Wikipedia)

History:

In 1935 Dene Denny and Hazel Watrous founded the Carmel Bach Festival on the premise that Carmel-by-the-Sea should become the epicenter of world-class music, art and cultural expression. Both women were musical producers, owners of the influential Dene-Watrous Gallery and well-known for their efforts in enhancing the cultural life of the Monterey Peninsula. The Festival began as a three-day festival of open rehearsals, events, and concerts with Ernst Bacon as guest conductor.
In 1938, Gastone Usigli was named conductor, leading the Festival until his death in 1956. Dene Denny chose the next conductor, a young man named Sandor Salgo. Under Salgo's 36-year leadership the largely amateur Festival became professional, nationally recognized and extended to multiple weeks. Sandor Salgo's long tenure as a Stanford University professor created a link between musical sponsorship and the emerging study of historical performance practices and a rediscovery of Baroque music.
When Salgo retired in 1991, Bruno Weil was named the Music Director and Conductor of the Carmel Bach Festival. During his 19 years with the Festival, Maestro Weil has advanced the Festival's international reputation for artistic excellence and innovative programming and attracted exciting new artists. Maestro Bruno Weil concludeâ his tenure with the 2010 Festival
The 74th Season in 2011 ushered in new Music Director Paul Goodwin who is eager to build upon the foundation of his predecessors and take the Carmel Bach Festival into new exciting territory.

The Carmel Bach Festival, which had begun in 1935 as a three-day festival of concerts, expanded to 3 weeks until the 2009 Season which, due to economic concerns, was reduced to 2 weeks. The Festival is a celebration of music and ideas inspired by the historical and ongoing influence of J.S. Bach in the world. In recent years, the Festival was under the management of Jesse Read, who started as a performer with Carmel Bach in 1980. As of 2009, the non-profit company is being guided by newly appointed executive director Camille Kolles.
The Festival has brought the music of the Baroque and beyond to communities of the Monterey Peninsula and to music lovers from both the USA and abroad. Composed of nationally and internationally renowned performing artists, the Festival orchestra and chorale, along with a local chorus, perform in a variety of venues within Carmel including the Sunset Cultural Center and the Carmel Mission Basilica, and other venues throughout the Monterey Peninsula. The Festival reaches out into the community by playing concerts in Monterey, Salinas, Seaside, and King City.
The Carmel Bach Festival has a history of artistic excellence and community service. It is one of the oldest music festivals in the West and the most important American Bach Festival. During the 16 days of the festival approximately 30,000 attendees enjoy a wide range of full orchestral and choral works, individual vocal and chamber ensemble concerts, recitals, films, lectures, interactive talks, master-classes, interactive social and family events, and educational experiences.

Mission:

To celebrate the music of J.S. Bach, his contemporaries and musical heirs and to introduce this genre of music to new audiences.

Recent Festivals:

1st Festival: Jul 18-21, 1935
2nd Festival: Jul 20-26, 1936
3rd Festival: Jul 19-25, 1937
7th Festival: Jul 21-27, 1941

12th Festival: Jul 21-??, 1949
13th Festival: Jul 16-23, 1950
14h Festival: Jul 16-22, 1951 ?
20h Festival: Jul 15-21, 1957

21st Festival: Jul 14-20, 1958
22nd Festival: Jul 20-26, 1959
24th Festival: Jul 14-23, 1961
25th Festival: Jul 20-29, 1962
26th Festival: Jul 19-28, 1963
27th Festival: Jul 17-26, 1964
28th Festival: Jul 16-25, 1965
29th Festival: Jul 15-24, 1966
30th Festival: Jul 21-30, 1967

32nd Festival: Jul 18-27, 1969
33rd Festival: Jul 17-26, 1970
34h Festival: Jul 16-25, 1971
35h Festival: Jul 21-30, 1972
38h Festival: Jul 14-27, 1975
40h Festival: Jul 18-31, 1977

43rd Festival: Jul 11-21, 1980
45h Festival: Jul 26-Aug ??, 1982
50h Festival: Jul 13-Aug. 2, 1987

51st Festival: Jul 11-Aug 1, 1988
52nd Festival: Jul 17-Aug 6, 1989
59th Festival: Jul 13-Aug 4, 1996
60th Festival: Jul 19-Aug 10, 1997

61st Festival: Jul 18-Aug 9, 1998
62nd Festival: Jul 15-21, 1999
63rd Festival: Jul 15-Aug. 6, 2000
64th Festival: Jul 13-Aug 5, 2001
65th Festival: Jul 13-24, 2002
66th Festival: Jul 18-Aug 10, 2003
67th Festival: Jul 17-Aug 7, 2004
68th Festival: Jul 16-Aug 6, 2005
69th Festival: Jul 15-Aug 5, 2006
70th Festival: Jul 14-Aug 4, 2007

71st Festival: Jul 19-Aug 9, 2008
72nd Festival: Jul 17-Aug 1, 2009
73rd Festival: Jul 17-31, 2010
74th Festival: Jul 16-30, 2011
75th Festival: Jul 14-28, 2012
76th Festival: Jul 13-27, 2013
77th Festival: Jul 16-Aug 2, 2014
78th Festival: Jul 18-Aug 1, 2015
79th Festival: Jul 16-30, 2016

Logo:







1st Festival - 1935

2nd Festival - 1936

7th Festival - 1941 [1]

7th Festival - 1941 [2]

13th Festival - 1950


21st Festival - 1958

26th Festival - 1963

27th Festival - 1964

   
   

35h Festival- 1972

39th Festival - 1976

40th Festival - 1977

  50th Festival - 1987
     
  Programme      

56th Festival - 1993

57th Festival - 1994

60th Festival -1997

   
   
Programme        

61st Festival - 1998

69th Festival - 2006

70th Festival - 2007

   
   
    Programme    

71st Festival -2008
[Patrick Dower]

71st Festival -2008
[Ryan Hedges]

71st Festival - 2008

72nd Festival – 2009 [1]

72nd Festival - 2009 [2]

73rd Festivsal - 2010 [1]

73rd Festivsal - 2010 [2]

74th Festival - 2011

75th Festival - 2012

76th Festival - 2013
 

77th Festival - 2014 [1]

77th Festival - 2014 [2]

77th Festival - 2014 [23

Backstage - Spring 2007
   

Source: Carmel Bach Festival Website; eBay; Bruce Nolan Website; Ryen; Hedges Website; Patrick Dowen Website; Pine Coner Archive Website & other web sources

Prepared by Aryeh Oron (October 2009 - March 2016)

Sandor Salgo: Short Biography | Carmel Bach Festival Chorale & Chorus | Carmel Bach Festival Orchestra | Recordings of Vocal Works | Carmel Bach Festival

Bruno Weil: Short Biography | Carmel Bach Festival Chorale & Chorus | Carmel Bach Festival Orchestra | Recordings of Vocal Works | Carmel Bach Festival


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