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 concludeג his tenure with the 2010 Festival
The 74^th 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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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