BABEL BACH – Slam Poetry and Baroque Music
During the winter of 1705, Johann Sebastian Bach, then aged 20, undertook a journey on foot of more than 400 kilometres from Arnstadt to Lübeck to meet the greatest organist in Northern Europe: Dietrich Buxtehude. From this famous episode, which undoubtedly constituted for the young man a quest both spiritual and artistic, the three poets Mehdi Krüger (France), Josephine von Blütenstaub (Germany) and Simone Savogin (Italy) together with French musicians Franck-Emanuel Comte (harpsichord), Aude Walker-Viry (Cello) and Tiko (human beatbox) created a show associating the music of JS Bach with the writing of poems in German, Italian and French.

Inspired by the artistic path proposed by the illustrious composer, the interaction between music and poetry was nourished by the richness of the music of JS Bach and constituted a common language for the participants of the project. The poets started working on their texts in October 2022 in Leipzig, met again in February in Modena and met the musicians in March 2023 during an artists residency in Lyon.

Performance Schedule

France

March 30th, 2023 - school concert in Lyon

March 30th, 2023, 20:00 - public concert at Salle Sainte-Hélène, Lyon

March 31st, 2023 - school concert in Saint-Donat sur l'Herbasse

March 31st, 2023, 20:30 - public concert at Centre Musical International J.S. Bach, Saint-Donat sur l'Herbasse

Germany

April 20th, 2023, 20:00 - public concert in cooperation with livelyrix e.V. at Neues Schauspiel, Leipzig

August 30th, 2024, 19:00 - public concert at Schaubühne Lindenfels, Leipzig

August 31st, 2024, 19:00 - public concert at Köthener Bachfesttage

November 22nd, 2024 - public concert during Festival European Music Trails, Leipzig

Italy

May 27th, 2023 - public concert at La Tenda, Parco Novi Sad, Modena

Other countries

May 19th, 2024 - CaixaForum, Barcelona/Spain

May 20th, 2024 - CaixaForum, Palma/Palma di Mallorca

November 24th, 2024 - CaixaForum, Valencia/Spain

November 26th, 2024 - Madrid/Spain

During their preparatory phase the poets lead or took part in workshops with students in their respective countries. The artistic direction of Babel Bach was entrusted to slam poet Mehdi Krüger and ensemble leader Franck-Emmanuel Comte.