35th Annual Bach Week Festival Offers Back-to-Back Bach May 9, 2008

For its 35th anniversary season, the Bach Week Festival in Evanston is returning to its roots going Bach to the future with every concert devoted exclusively to the music of its namesake, Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750).

Festival concerts will be presented at the Music Institute of Chicago, 1490 Chicago Ave., in downtown Evanston.

The festival will showcase the range of Bachs genius from intimate pieces for solo instruments to grand works for chorus, soloists, and orchestra, said Richard Webster, the festivals music director. Webster played harpsichord at the inaugural festival in 1974 and has been music director since 1975.

Performers are the Bach Week Festival Orchestra, many of whom are members of the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera of Chicago orchestras; the Bach Week Festival Chorus; and distinguished instrumental and vocal soloists.

The main concert on Friday, May 9, 7:30 p.m. will strike a chord with harpsichord lovers. Multiple harpsichordists David Schrader, Stephen Alltop, and Richard Webster will take the stage at the same time for the Concerto in C Major for three harpsichords, BWV 1064. The Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B Flat, BWV 1051, features violists Max Raimi and Melissa Trier Kirk. Soprano Patrice Michaels, tenor William Watson, and bass Douglas Anderson sing Bachs famous cantata "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" (Wake up, the voice calls us), BWV 140, with Stefan Hersh on violino piccolo and the festival orchestra and chorus.

Cost-saving subscriptions to the entire four-concert series are $100 for regular adult admission, $85 for seniors 65 and older, and $75 for students with identification. Prices are the same for both main-floor and balcony seats.

Single tickets for each of the concerts, except for the May 9 candlelight harpsichord concert, are $35 regular adult admission, $25 seniors 65 and older, $20 students with identification, and $10 children 10 and younger.

All seating is reserved. For tickets and ticket information, phone (800) 595-4849; order online at www.bachweek.org.

Event submitted by Eventful.com on behalf of natsilv.