Recordings/Discussions
Background Information
Performer Bios
Poet/Composer Bios
Additional Information
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Bach Festivals & Cantata Series
Bach Week Festival, Evanston |
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Name: |
Bach Week Festival |
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Location: |
Evanston, Illinois, USA |
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Venues: |
St. Luke's Episcopal Church - 939 Himman, Evanston, IL
Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, I
First Congregational Church, Hinman & Grove, Evanston, Il |
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Years: |
Since 1974 (Annual Festival) |
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Months: |
April-May |
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Artistic Director: |
Karel Paukert (1974)
Richard Webster (since 1975) |
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Ensembles: |
The Bach Week Festival Chamber Orchestra
The Bach Week Festival Chorus |
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Website: |
Bach Week Festival |
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History & Mission: |
Bach Week was founded in 1974 by Karel Paukert, then Associate Professor of Organ and Church Music at Northwestern University and Organist/Choirmaster at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
Mr. Paukert’s vision was to combine the choral resources available to him at St. Luke’s with professional instrumentalists from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera Orchestra, and Northwestern to perform the great choral and orchestral music of J.S. Bach.
Since the original performances in 1974, the festival has continued without interruption each May - the first year directed by Mr. Paukert, and successive years by Richard Webster.
From 1974 until 1982, the works of J. S. Bach were featured exclusively. Since 1982, works by other Baroque composers have been added selectively, particularly works by worthy but lesser-known composers not widely performed elsewhere.
The music of J.S. Bach still predominates and one critic called the Bach Week Festival “the most comprehensive celebration of Bach’s music west of Leipzig.” Artistic quality and public response have continued to develop throughout Bach Week’s history. As a result, Bach Week has earned the reputation as one of the Midwest’s most highly regarded and respected concert series. |
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Recent Festivals: |
31st Festival: May 2-9, 2004
32nd Festival: May 1-8, 2005
33rd Festival: May 5-14, 2006
34th Festival: May 4-13, 2007
35th Festival: May 2-9, 2008
36th Festival: Apr 24-26 & Oct 11, 2009 |
37th Festival: Apr 23-30 & Oct 10, 2010
38th Festival: Apr 29-May 1, 2011; Oct 9, 2011
39th Festival: Apr 27-May 6, 2012
40th Festival: Apr 19-May 5, 2013 |
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Logo: |
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2009 |
2010 - 1 |
2010 - 2 |
2011 - 1 |
Oct 2011 |
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Source: Bach Week Festival Website & Early Music Chicago Website |
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Prepared by Aryeh Oron (October 2009 - January 2013) |
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