When Bach arrived in Leipzig in late May of 1723 he came prepared to show the city what he could do as the director of music. The high point of the 2023 festival will be a celebration of the first cantatas that Bach performed in the principal churches of the city in the weeks after his arrival. As these works amply demonstrate, it was an auspicious beginning to a period of extraordinary creative output which saw the composition of over 100 cantatas in the course of the next  four years. Join us as we celebrate this turning point in Bach’s life with some of his greatest cantata creations - not to be missed!

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Leipzig Cantatas

Eastminster United Church

Many of Bach’s instrumental works, as well as a significant number of non-religious vocal works were performed at Zimmermann’s coffee house in Leipzig. We are especially pleased and excited to welcome the distinguished Canadian actor RH Thomson in his Toronto Bach Festival debut as Herr Zimmermann as we inaugurate a new feature at this year’s festival, a recreation of the spirit of this important outlet in Bach’s creative life. Leave your formal concert etiquette at home, and join us at Toronto’s venerable Concert Hall for a relaxing evening of great music in a café setting.

Kaffeehaus

The Concert Hall

We are pleased to welcome this year’s guest artist, harpsichordist Steven Devine, as he makes his Toronto Bach Festival debut in one of Bach’s most striking concertos, the powerful Concerto in D minor for harpsichord. The program, taking place downtown Toronto at the beautiful Church of the Holy Trinity, will also include the rarely performed Concerto in C major for two harpsichords, featuring Mr. Devine alongside our own Christopher Bagan. Rounding out the evening will be the beloved Concerto in E major for violin, featuring festival concertmaster Julia Wedman, and a new transcription of Bach’s Italian Concerto, arranged and performed by Artistic Director John Abberger.

Toronto Bach Festival Orchestra

May 28, 2023

Leipzig Cantatas

May 27, 2023

Kaffeehaus

Toronto Bach Festival Orchestra