Johann Sebastian Bach is widely regarded as the greatest composer in history and his music is revered around the planet. People love the Brandenburg Concerti, the Goldberg Variations, the Well Tempered Clavier, and the Passions. But the largest and least known treasure trove Bach created were the 199 surviving cantatas. Most these profound gems of choral and orchestral music were composed in an extraordinary burst of creativity in the first three years of Bach’s arrival in Leipzig. They are deep in their spirituality and humanity, and dazzling in their beauty and variety, but there are very few opportunities in the world for people to experience them first hand. Thanks to the vision of violinist Tekla Cunningham and our exceptional early music community, Seattle is going to be one to those places. The Seattle Bach Festival is destined to become a major cultural event in the artistic life of this city, bringing the profound joy of Bach’s genius to a wider audience. I am delighted to support this noble effort and invite you to do the same.
John Gordon Hill
I am supporting the Seattle Bach Festival because there is a time and a place for everything. The time is now. Seattle is the place. We have a unique opportunity to create something extraordinary with the music of JS Bach in a place with the deep resources of artistic talent needed to make a project like this thrive, and with a community of arts lovers for whom this project will resonate to the core. This is the time to create something that will bring joy to many for years to come.
Byron Rakitzis
I’ve spent the last 25 years of my career delighting in the intellectual, symbolic, and expressive sound world of the music of Bach and his contemporaries so I can’t help but be compelled to share it and contribute in as many ways as possible to bring it to life here in Seattle. Supporting the Seattle Bach Festival helps ensure the community where I live can experience the same special joy and wonder of this music that I tend to travel around the country to bring to others. Bringing people together to create meaningful performances is an art in itself and supporting these efforts makes me so grateful to be part of such a worthwhile adventure.
Kris Kwapis
Have you been moved by the Seattle Bach Festival’s performances? Has the music touched your soul or brought joy to your life? We want to hear your story!
Your testimonial can inspire others to support our mission of bringing the beauty of Bach’s music to our community. By sharing your experience, you’re helping to ensure that the festival can continue to thrive for generations to come.
Take a moment to share your story. Your words matter!
