Bach Festivals & Cantata Series
Bachwoche Stuttgart (1999-2024)
Internationales Bachfest Stuttgart (since 2025)

Name:

Bachwoche Stuttgart = Stuttgarter Bachwoche (Stuttgart Bach Festival)
Internationales Bachfest Stuttgart

Location:

Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Venues:

Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst - Konzertsaal & Kammersaal
Stiftskirche

Years:

Since 1999 (Annual Festival)

Months:

February-March

Artistic Director:

Helmuth Rilling (1999-2012)
Hans-Christoph Rademann (2013-Present)

Ensembles:

Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart > Gaechinger Cantorey
Bach-Collegium Stuttgart
JSB Ensemble, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble

Website:

Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart: Bachwoche Stuttgart

History & Mission:

The Bachwoche Stuttgart is an intensive, week-long academy and festival dedicated to the music of J.S. Bach. It is hosted by the renowned Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart, which was founded in 1981 by the acclaimed German conductor Helmuth Rilling.
History
Founding: Conductor Helmuth Rilling established the Bachakademie in 1981 with the goal of creating a hub that bridged scholarly research with practical musical performance.
Ensemble Evolution: In 2016, under the artistic direction of Hans-Christoph Rademann, the academy reorganized its resident choir and orchestra into a unified original-sound group known as the Gaechinger Cantorey.
Repertoire Expansion: While rooted in J.S. Bach, the festival and academy frequently explore the music of his contemporaries and successors, bridging 17^th-century sacred music with present-day compositions.
Mission
Combining Theory and Practice: The Bachwoche operates as an educational intensive where students, scholars, and professional musicians gather to study, rehearse, and perform.
Global Talent Cultivation: Through masterclasses and panel discussions, the academy acts as a springboard for young musicians from around the world. Under the tutelage of experienced artists, these young performers form high-level ensembles for public showcases and international tours.
The Stuttgart Sound: The academy seeks to promote an internationally recognized “Stuttgart Bach style” characterized by historically informed, dynamic, and emotionally expressive interpretations of J.S. Bach's choral and orchestral works.

The Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart (International Bach Academy in Stuttgart) combines in a special way the "thinking about music" with the practice. The Bachwoche Stuttgart is a prime example of the combination of master-classes and panel discussions with general studies, church services, concerts and talk shows.
In March 2025, a major musical event celebratd its premiere: the Internationales Bachfest Stuttgart. The Bachakademie combines the popular Bachwoche Stuttgart and the prestigious Musikfest Stuttgart into a completely new festival, offering you the established formats and much more. Look forward to special experiences with young and renowned musicians from around the world and an exciting accompanying program.

Recent Festivals:

1^st Festival: Jan 31-Feb 21, 1999
2^nd Festival: Feb 19-27, 2000
3^rd Festival: Feb 24-Mar 3, 2001
4^th Festival: Feb 22-Mar 3, 2002
5^th Festival: Feb 21-Mar 2, 2003
6^th Festival: Feb 20-29, 2004
7^th Festival: Feb 18-27, 2005
8^th Festival: Feb 17-26, 2006
9^th Festival: Feb 16-25, 2007
10^th Festival: Feb 22-Mar 2, 2008

11^th Festival: Feb 20-Mar 1, 2009
12^th Festival: Feb 20-28, 2010
13^th Festival: Mar 12-21, 2011
14^th Festival: Mar 19-25, 2012
15^th Festival: Mar 17-24, 2013
16^th Festival: Mar 2-9, 2014
17^th Festival: Mar 15-22, 2015
18^th Festival: Mar 14-21, 2016
19^th Festival: Mar 15-22, 2017
20^th Festival: Mar 16-25, 2018

21^st Festival: Mar 14-21, 2019
22^nd Festival: Mar 13-21, 2020
Festival: 2021 (cancelled, Covid-19)
23^rd Festival: Mar 21-27, 2022
24^th Festival: Mar 19-26, 2023
25^th Festival: Mar 3-10, 2024

Internationales Bachfest Stuttgart:
1^st Festival: Mar 9-23, 2025
2^nd Festival: Mar 13-28, 2026

Logo: