Founder and artistic director Alexandra Scheibler wonders what makes it possible to listen to Bach over and over again without getting bored.
“It’s not the same phenomenon we have with other music. Even with Beethoven’s symphonies, after five times, you want to take a break. But that never happens with Bach. Maybe it’s the counterpoint, the structure, I don’t know… I’m not the only person who thinks that,” she explains, suggesting that a scientist look into the matter.
No wonder in this case that the public comes in such large numbers each time to hear yet another presentation of the Goldberg Variations or some Cello Suites of the Cantor.
The Goldberg were exceptionally given earlier this year in a pre-opening concert offered by pianist András Schiff at the Maison symphonique, an experience that delighted Alexandra Scheibler, due to the concentration of the public.
No one clapped for about twenty seconds at the end. It’s rare to see this!
Alexandra Scheibler
The famous variations will nevertheless be performed again by the Violons du Roy and conductor Nicolas Ellis on November 27 in an arrangement by Bernard Labadie.
Otherwise, the great soloist of the Festival will undoubtedly be Christian Tetzlaff, who will climb the violinist Everest of the Sonatas and Partitas in a single concert on December 2 at St. George’s Church. It was Isabelle Faust and Antje Weithaas who had rubbed shoulders with it the previous times.
The director of the Festival sees in her guest the archetype of the Bachian performer. “An artist like Christian Tetzlaff is above technical problems,” she says. He can really dive into the musical material, into the emotions, tell a story with his instrument. »
We also note the integral of The art of running away by the young Italian pianistic revelation Filippo Gorini on November 22 at Bourgie Hall.
A must
In the choral department, the opening concert on November 17 remains a must. The public will have the opportunity to hear, in the acoustics of the Maison symphonique, the Passion according to Saint John by the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart, a legendary ensemble founded by Helmut Rilling that will perform for the first time in Montreal. Among the soloists, there is in particular the extraordinary bass Peter Harvey, as well as the Icelandic tenor Benedikt Kristjánsson, upsetting last year in theChristmas oratorio.
This will also be performed — in a reduced version (cantatas I, II and IV) — by the Orchester symphonique de Montréal “post-festival” on December 21 and 22 under the direction of Leonardo Garcia Alarcón.
But it’s not just the big milestones and international stars.
Now the public trusts us. Even if there are works or performers that he doesn’t know, he will say to himself: “Ah yes, it’s the Bach Festival, we’re going to try”.
Alexandra Scheibler
We will therefore be entitled to Bach (and other related composers) on the harpsichord by Luc Beauséjour (November 18), on the organ of the Saint-Joseph oratory on November 20 (four organists will pay homage to Kenneth Gilbert) and on December 4 (by the titular Vincent Boucher), on piano by the phenomenal Eva Gevorgyan (November 23) and on lute by the young French virtuoso Thomas Dunford (November 29).
The Off-Bach, launched in 2019, remains dear to the heart of the artistic director, who rescheduled it this year from November 29 to December 4. It allows the public to come to its headquarters on boulevard Saint-Laurent at any time to hear public rehearsals, attend flash appearances by festival stars or simply have a glass of wine while listening to a lecture.
“Bach’s music speaks to many different people, remains convinced Alexandra Scheibler. Both confirmed musicians and the advanced public who listen The art of running away, than children and people who have not studied music. Because this music is timeless. »
The Montreal Bach Festival, from November 17 to December 9, 2022. With a Postlude on December 21 and 22, 2022.