Bach Festivals & Cantata Series
Köthener Bach Festtage

Name:

Köthener Bach Festtage (Köthen Bach Festival)
Die Köthener Bachfesttage

Location:

Köthen (Anhalt), Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Venues:

The Köthener BachFesttage (Köthen Bach Festival) primarily takes place at historic locations within Köthen Castle (Schloss Köthen). The festival centers around J.S. Bach’s creative legacy in the town and utilizes the following exact venues:
Schloss Köthen (Köthen Castle) Venues:
- Spiegelsaal (Mirror Hall): The castle's most famous and ornate hall, where J.S. Bach originally premiered many of his secular works.
- Schlosskapelle (Castle Chapel): The historic chapel in the castle where J.S. Bach's court music was performed.
- Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Saal: Located within the modern Veranstaltungszentrum (Event Center) at the castle, often used for major concerts.
- Ferdinandsbau: A designated wing/building inside the castle complex.
- Schlosspark: The castle grounds, frequently used for outdoor performances, open-air events, and community gatherings.
Local Churches
- Kirche St. Jakob: The main town church where significant choral, organ, and orchestral performances take place.
Kirche St. Agnus (Agnuskirche): A historic church in the town, frequently utilized for solo recitals and chamber music.
Civic Spaces:
Dürerbundhaus: A local cultural center used for special exhibitions and musical events.

Years:

Since 1967 (Biennial Festival)

Months:

August-September

Artistic Director:

Hans-Georg Schäfer (1970's-2014)
Folkert Uhde (2015-Present)

Ensembles:

Köthener BachCollektiv: The festival's resident ensemble. Created to revive the historical instrumentation of the Köthen court orchestra, it performs under directors like Midori Seiler.
Ensemble CONTINUU||M: Led by harpsichordist Elina Albach, this group often performs highly innovative and visually unconventional J.S. Bach adaptations.
Ensemble Polyharmonique: A highly specialized vocal ensemble renowned for its historically informed approach to Baroque vocal and chamber music.
JAM Jugendensemble Alte Musik Berlin: A youth collective that frequently participates in the festival's prelude and educational concerts.
Ensemble Polyharmonique: A well-known early music ensemble often featured alongside participants of the Köthener BACH Akademie.
Soloists and Guest Performers: The festival also spotlights world-class instrumentalists and vocalists, including soprano Miriam Feuersinger.

Website:

Bach in Köthen
Die Köthener Bachfesttage (Official Website) [German]

History & Mission:

The music festival was founded in 1967 during the former East Germany period. After a hiatus, the event was re-established and expanded in the 1980's (around 1985), and it transitioned into the biennial (every two years) format that continues today. The small music festival made its first leap at the start after Hans-Georg Schäfer became the general director. He was the former general manager of the Berliner Philharmoniker and Bachwoche Ansbach.
After then Authorities of J.S. Bach performances such as John Eliot Gardiner, Ton Koopman, Philippe Herreweghe, etc. have appeared one after another, and have grown into a presence that is also recognized by the general public. In 2014 the general director was retired, but “BachCollektiv” was founded as a resident ensemble.
The festival is typically held in late summer (August and September) and lasts for about a week.
Alternating Years: In the odd-numbered years when the full Bachfesttage does not take place, Köthen hosts the Köthener Herbst (Köthen Autumn) festival, which is paired with the National Bach Competition for young pianists.

Recent Festivals:

1967-1989 (East German (GDR) era):
1^st Festival: Summer 1967
2^nd Festival: Aug 30-Sep 7, 1969
3^rd Festival: Aug 26-Sep 2, 1971.
4^th Festival: Oct 5-7 1973
5^th Festival: Sep 2-7, 1975.
6^th Festival: Dec 4-10, 1977
7^th Festival: Aug 1979
8^th Festival: Oct 23-25, 1981
9^th Festival: Nov 5-11, 1983
10^th Festival: Mar 18-23, 1985

11^th Festival: Aug 29-Sep 7, 1986
12^th Festival: Aug 26-Sep 4, 1988
13^th Festival: Aug 31-Sep 9, 1990
14^th Festival: Aug 28-Sep 6, 1992
15^th Festival: Sep 2-11, 1994
167^th Festival: August 30-Sep 8, 1996
17^th Festival: Aug 28-Sep 6, 1998
18^th Festival: Sep 1-10, 2000
19^th Festival: Aug 29-Sep 8, 2002
20^th Festival: Sep 1-5, 2004

21^st Festival: Aug 30-Sep 3, 2006
22^nd Festival: Sep 3-7, 2008
23^rd Festival: Sep 1-5, 2010
24^th Festival: Sep 5-9, 2012
25^th Festival: Sep 3-7, 2014
26^th Festival: Aug 28-Sep 4, 2016
27^th Festival: Aug 26-Sep 2, 2018
28^th Festival: Sep 2-6, 2020 ¹
29^th Festival: Aug 28-Sep 4, 2022
30^th Festival: Aug 25-Sep 1, 2024

1. Note: Dates were altered and events were restructured due to the COVID-19 pandemi

31^st Festival: Aug 28-Sep 6, 2026

Logo: