Since those early days, the number of concerts and venues has grown steadily each year. Today the halls of the Baroque palace, the Wintergarden (in the French Garden), St. Gumbertus church, the Gothic Johanneskirche and the cathedral of the ancient Cistercian abbey of Heilsbronn, provide Bach enthusiasts with the ideal setting for this much-loved celebration of the composer’s music.

Guest performers include some of the outstanding names specializing in the Bach repertoire. The festival also gives young musicians, often prize-winners of major music competitions, the opportunity to perform before audiences of seasoned connoisseurs. On the occasion of its 60th anniversary, Bach Week 2007 offers a top quality programme and a whole range of musical activities.

Those taking part include Masaaki Suzuki and the Bach Collegium Japan, Andrew Manze and The English Concert, the Munich Chamber Orchestra with Christoph Poppen, pianist Evgeni Koroliov, trumpet soloist Reinhold Friedrich, violinist Vadim Gluzman, cellist Johannes Moser, organist Edgar Krapp and the Jacques Loussier Trio. Vocalists include Christiane Oelze and Konrad Jarnot, in addition to which there are new ensembles, including Lyriarte and Neobarock.

Trevor Pinnock has put together a new ensemble featuring the leading European Baroque performers for Bach Week’s opening concert. The programme features some of Bach’s most famous works: the Brandenburg Concertos, numerous cantatas, the Magnificat and the St. Matthew Passion. It also includes concerts of great musicological interest, such as “Der junge Bach” (The young Bach) and “Bach oder nicht” (Bach or not Bach), as well as others with a more modern approach, such as the concert by the Jacques Loussier Trio, which widen and enrich the broad musical spectrum of the festival.

The re-commissioning in St. Gumbertus church of the recently restored organ built in 1738 by Johann Christoph Wiegleb, will be the icing on the cake of this year’s Bach Week celebrations. The instrument, dating from the time of Bach himself, is not only the most important historical organ in central Franconia, but also constitutes a bridge between the life and tradition of its author and Bach’s native Thuringia. If you have already made your plans for this summer and are unable to attend Bach Week 2007, take heart! The programme for Bach Week 2009, scheduled from 31 July to 9 August, 2009, will be published in November, 2008. For more information see www.bachwoche.de