BACH ORCHESTRA OF THE LEIPZIG GEWANDHAUS
HARRY ROLNICK
The Bach Orchestra of the Leipzig Gewandhau. |
The Bach Orchestra of the Leipzig Gewandhaus will perform the Brandenburg Concertos as part of the Great Artists of the World 2008 series in "A Tribute in Memory of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana" on Saturday July 19 at 8pm at the Thailand Cultural Centre.
Leipzig in Germany has a rich musical tradition. It was in this city that the great Johann Sebastian Bach spent 27 of his most productive years, creating many major masterpieces while serving as the choirmaster and organist at St Thomas Church.
The Leipzig Orchestra was founded nine years before Bach's death in 1750 and later established itself in the city's Gewandhaus (Cloth Hall) in 1781, at the same time adopting the name the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. It is therefore one of the oldest established and most celebrated symphony orchestras in the world.
The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra's music directors have included such illustrious figures as Felix Mendelssohn, Arthur Nikitsch, and three German maestros - Wilhelm Furtwangler, Bruno Walter and Kurt Masur.
In 1962, the Orchestra's music director, Franz Konwitschny, decided to form a smaller ensemble comprising principal players of the Leipzig Gewandhaus specifically to perform the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Titled the Bach Orchestra of the Leipzig Gewandhaus, the ensemble was in the middle of its first tour when Franz Konwitschny died. The members of the Bach Orchestra, however, decided to continue the ensemble's activities under the direction of the Gewandhaus Orchestra's first concertmaster, Professor Gerhard Bosse. To this day, the Bach Orchestra comprises members of its illustrious parent, the Gewandhaus Orchestra, and continues to perform the music of Bach. Although there are many ensembles performing Bach's music on original instruments today, the Bach Orchestra musicians use modern instruments and remain faithful to the original performance style, adding only a renewed energy. Their aim is to continue the performing tradition established by Bach during his years in Leipzig.
Since 1987, Professor Christian Funke, the present First Concertmaster of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, has been serving as the Bach Orchestra's conductor and solo violinist. The ensemble has toured many parts of world, including Japan, since their first visit in 1978.
The concert is being organised by the Office of the National Culture Commission in the Ministry of Culture, in association with the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Foundation, B. Grimm and Co. ROP, Credit Suisse and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Bangkok.
The Bach Orchestra of the Leipzig Gewandhaus will perform the 'Brandenburg Concertos' on July 19 at 8pm at the Thailand Cultural Centre.
Tickets, 500 to 2,000 baht, are available at Thai Ticket Major counters or visit http://www.thaiticketmajor.com/.
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