OSL's Bach Festival Shifts Online In Response to COVID-19 Closures
Spanning four weeks from June 23–July 14, 2020—and only two months after COVID-19 closures began—Orchestra of St. Luke’s launched “Bach at Home,” a digital response that brought free music directly to the homes of audiences around the world.
Week One:
The first week of Bach at Home 2020 explores Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos and Cello Suites with performances, interviews, videos, and more featuring Principal Conductor Bernard Labadie, cellist Pieter Wispelwey, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and individual OSL musicians. In Bernard’s Bach, Labadie illuminates well- and lesser-known works by J.S. Bach.
Week Two:
Soprano Amanda Forsythe performs arias from Bach’s St. John Passion. Amanda discusses her favorite works of Bach in an exclusive interview for OSL, and Bernard’s Bach continues with a close look at one of Bach’s most popular arias, “Bist du bei mir,” and we begin our journey with Bach’s iconic Goldberg Variations with harpsichordist Pierre Hantaï performing selections from the work as it was written.
Week Three:
We continue our journey with Bach’s Goldberg Variations with Bernard Labadie’s unique arrangement of the work for full Baroque ensemble. Pedja Muzijevic’s Bach Family Album, builds on his Bach Dialogues, and explores the relationship between J.S. Bach and two of his sons through their keyboard music.
Week Four:
The fourth and final week of Bach at Home 2020 merges with the DeGaetano Composition Institute for four new world premieres, all inspired by J.S. Bach. All four pieces were written and developed through the institute, with the four emerging composers receiving guidance from the DeGaetano Composition Institute composer-mentor Anna Clyne. Harpsichordist Jean Rondeau juxtaposes contrasting harpsichord concertos by J.S. and J.C. Bach.