Bach Days in Istanbul

ISTANBUL

The 13rd Istanbul Bach Days will be organized this year with the theme “Bach & Love.”

The event will open Dec. 7 with the world-renowned violin virtuoso Andres Mustonen and the leading Estonian Glasperlenspiel Chamber Orchestra on the Grand Pera Emek Stage. The concert will present a selection from Bach. 

The festival’s other concerts will take place at the Istanbul Maritime Museum, but this time with a difference from last year. Just as in Gottfried Zimmermann’s café in Leipzig in the 1700s, viewers will be able to drink their beverages while listening to music and experience the special concepts of Café Zimmermann in the 18th century. Food and beverages will be offered by Shangri-La during the concerts, and there will also be talks on music and love before the concerts. 

On Dec. 18, Goethe-Institut Istanbul Institute Director Dr. Reimar Volker will give a speech on Cafe Zimmermann before a concert by the European Union Baroque Ensemble. 

The festival will host violin virtuoso François Fernandez and Benjamin Alard on Dec. 20. Alard will also be on the stage with Myriam Arbouz on Dec. 21, before which pianist and musicologist Filiz Ali will deliver a speech on love. 

The closing concert of the festival will be given again by violinist Fernandez on Dec. 22. During the recital, Fernandez will perform the La Minor and Sol Minor sonatas, in which Bach expressed his loneliness after the death of his first wife, as well as the Re Minor partita. 

Tickets for the festival can be bought from Biletix.