Baldwin-Wallace College Bach Festival



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Country and Region United States — Ohio
Type of Festival Music
Location of Festival Berea, Ohio USA
Festival Address Information

Baldwin-Wallace College Bach Festival
Riemenschneider Bach Institute
Conservatory of Music
Merner-Pfeiffer Hall Room 105
49 Seminary Street
Berea, Ohio, USA 44017
Phone: (01) 440-826-2207
Email: bachfest@bw.edu

Festival Description

The Baldwin-Wallace Bach Festival is not only the oldest collegiate, but also the second-oldest Bach festival in the nation. The festival was founded in 1932 by Professor Albert Riemenschneider (longtime Director of the College Conservatory) and his wife, Selma. The Baldwin-Wallace Festival Choir and Orchestra presented the first Bach Festival in June 1933. Since that time, Bach Festivals have been annual events at Baldwin-Wallace.

Festival Dates April 18 - 20, 2008
Festival Links

http://www.bw.edu/academics/libraries/bach/festivals/bachfest/

Festival Story:

The Baldwin-Wallace Bach Festival is not only the oldest collegiate, but also the second-oldest Bach festival in the nation. The festival was founded in 1932 by Professor Albert Riemenschneider (longtime Director of the College Conservatory) and his wife, Selma. The Baldwin-Wallace Festival Choir and Orchestra presented the first Bach Festival in June 1933. Since that time, Bach Festivals have been annual events at Baldwin-Wallace.

Baldwin-Wallace performing groups are joined by several faculty members and local professional musicians in the three-day, five-event program. Soloists are internationally known artists; the lecturers, distinguished Bach and Baroque scholars. Our students consider the unusual opportunity of participating as colleagues with world-class professionals a high point in their performing experience.

Beginning with the 43rd Festival in 1975, the Baldwin-Wallace Festival performing groups have been reduced to sizes now known to be more nearly commensurate with those employed in Bach’s time. Likewise, from 1975 on, all vocal works have been sung in the language of their origins. These changes have made possible the cultivation of a truly Baroque sound with inherent clarity, drive, and intensity.

With a repertoire list that includes more than 300 compositions by J. S. Bach, as well as selected works from 52 other composers, the Festival rotates Bach’s four major choral works on a four year cycle. In this way, Baldwin-Wallace students are exposed to all four of the major Bach choral works during their college years; the B-minor Mass, the St. Matthew and St. John Passions, and the Christmas Oratorio.

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Festival Events:

76th Anniversary Bach Festival 2008:
  • Featured participants
    • St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244
    • Nancy Argenta, Soprano
    • Christine Abraham, Mezzo-Soprano
    • Kevin Deas, Bass-Baritone
    • Curtis Streetman, Bass
    • John Holloway, Violin
    • Jaap Ter Linden, Cello
    • Lars Ulrik Mortensen, Harpsichord
    • Additional Special Guests and Soloists: TBA
    • Dwight Oltman, Festival Music Director
    • Stuart Raleigh, Festival Choral Director
  • Featured Vocal Soloist
    • Nancy Argenta, Soprano
    • Christine Abraham, Mezzo-Soprano
    • Frank Kelley, Tenor
    • Frederick Urrey, Tenor
    • Kevin Deas, Bass-Baritone
    • Curtis Streetman, Bass
  • Special Guests
    • John Holloway, Violin
    • Jaap Ter Linden, Cello
    • Lars Ulrik Mortensen, Harpsichord
    • John Lippincott, Organ
    • Ohio Boy Choir
  • Directors
    • Dwight Oltman, Festival Music Director
    • Stuart Raleigh, Fesitval Choral Director
    • Mel Unger, Bach Service
    • John Brndiar, Brass Choir
Festival Events 2008:
  • Sunday, April 13, 2008
    • Preview event, Bach Service, B-W Singers
      Venue—St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 2747 Fairmount Boulevard, Cleveland Heights, OH 44106 (free and open to the public) repeated
      April 20th at United Methodist Church of Berea
  • Friday, April 18, 2008
    • Riemenschneider Bach Institute Open House Venue—Main Floor, Merner-Pfeiffer, Room 105 (free and open to the public)
    • 3:15pm Festival Brass Choir, John Brndiar conducting
      Venue—Marting Hall Tower (free and open to the public)
    • 4:00 p.m. FIRST CONCERT, Venue—Gamble Auditorium (tickets required)
      J. S. Bach: Cantata, Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51, featureing Nancy Argenta, Soprano
      Cantata, Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir, BWV 130, featuring Nancy Argenta, Soprano; Christine Abraham, Mezzo-Soprano; Kevin Deas, Bass-Baritone
      Motet, Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden, BWV 230
    • 7:15pm Festival Brass Choir, John Brndiar conducting
      Venue—Marting Hall Tower (free and open to the public)
    • 8:00pm SECOND CONCERT, Gamble Auditorium (tickets required)
      Featuring John Holloway, Violin; Jaap Ter Linden, Cello; Lars Ulrik Mortensen, Harpsichord.
  • Saturday, April 19, 2008
    • 3:15pm Festival Brass Choir, John Brndiar conducting
      Venue—Marting Hall Tower (free and open to the public)
    • 4:00pm THIRD CONCERT, Gamble Auditorium (tickets required)
      J. S. Bach: St. Matthew Passion, BWV 224
      Part I—Nancy Argenta, Soprano; Christine Abraham, Mezzo-Soprano; Kevin Deas, Bass-Baritone; Curtis Streetman, Christ.
    • 7:15pm Festival Brass Choir, John Brndiar conducting
      Venue—Marting Hall Tower (free and open to the public)
    • 8:00 p.m. FOURTH CONCERT, Gamble Auditorium (tickets required)
      J. S. Bach: St. Matthew Passion, BWV 224
      Part II—Nancy Argenta, Soprano; Christine Abraham, Mezzo-Soprano; Kevin Deas, Bass-Baritone; Curtis Streetman, Christ.
  • Sunday, April 20, 2008
    • 11:15pm Bach Service, B-W Singers, Venue—United Methodist Church of Berea (free and open to the public)
    • 12:30 Honors Brunch, (College Union - Celebrating named scholarship recipients and donors (open to the public, $, 826-2365)
    • 2:00pm FIFTH CONCERT, Venue—United Methodist Church of Berea (tickets required)
      J. S. Bach: Art of Fugue, BWV 1080, featuring guest artist: TBA
    • 4:00pm Honors Recital (free and open to the public)

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