BACH ACADEMY – Master Classes for Students of Early Music & Concerts

The first Bach Academy happened from November 14th to 18th, 2022 in Leipzig. 18 students of early music and 3 singers from Germany, Italy and France were invited after an application process to participate under the tutelage of Franck-Emmanuel Comte (conducting, singers & continuo coaching), Reynier Guerrero (1st violins and traverso), Mechthild Karkow (2nd violins and violas), Aude Walker-Viry (celli & double bass) and Ines Laue (German pronunciation for singers). They participated in the service of St. Nicolas Church (where Bach premiered many of his cantatas as well as his Christmas Oratorio and St. John's Passion) and played a concert in Leipzig's Old Stock Exchange (Leipzig's oldest baroque building). From Leipzig the whole orchestra travelled to Lyon to perform there. The Academy orchestra rehearsed and performed pieces of Johann Sebastian Bach and his sons (Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Johann Christoph Frederic Bach as well as Johann Christian Bach).

The second Bach Academy happened between July 18th to 25th, 2024 in Modena, Italy with an added period of rehearsals between November 18th and 23rd, 2024 in Leipzig. 15 period instrumentalists and 3 singers were conducted by Mario Sollazzo (singers, continuo, harpsichord) and tutored by Priska Comploi (recorder/winds), Franziska Schoetensack (violin/strings) and Augusto Gasbarri (cello/continuo). The orchestra performed a concert in Modena on their final day there and from there travelled to Saint-Donat in France to play on the first day of the Bach festival. In the morning of the same day, they also performed for free an "Aubade in the parc". In Leipzig they played another concert and then, divided into smaller ensembles, played five concerts during the Notenspur-Nacht der Hausmusik (Night of Making Music at Home).
The musical programme consisted of Johann Sebastian Bach's Brandenburg Concerto nr. 2 BWV1047, Brandenburg Concerto nr. 4 BWV1049, Concerto for 3 violins, strings, and continuo BWV1064R, Concerto for flute, violin, harpsichord, strings, and continuo BWV 1044, and a selection of vocal pieces for soprano, mezzo, and tenor.

During both academies students also received an introduction to Baroque dance by dance tutor Nicolle Klinkeberg and in Leipzig they invited school children to visit an open rehearsal during each implementation.

The Bach-Academies have been co-funded by the German-French Youth Office.