Author: Margaret Steinitz

LBS has continued to work for the duration of the lockdowns imposed over the past 15 months. Through our regular editions of e-Bach Notes and Zoom BachChats we have kept in touch with our supporters and audiences, unable to give ‘live’ performances. However to our delight, we were awarded a Government Culture Recovery Fund Award in the first round last October and in addition to helping us to continue day by day, the Award has enabled us to create some online performances filmed during March and April in St George’s Hanover Square and Kings Place. We are joining other organisations “keeping the show on the road”. The filming and editing work is now finished and we are putting the finishing touches to the films prior to their launch online. We will market them as widely as possible and all on our lists will be invited to view and support. A special BachChat will follow.

London Bach Society celebrates its 75th anniversary in the autumn 2021, so our online series provides a valuable prelude. Our celebratory series will be spread across the season 2021-2022 as a reflection of our foundation on 7 November 1946 right through to the first recitals in June 1947.

BACHCHATS online

The next online BachChat will be in late April/May at 5.30pm for one hour. If you would like to participate, then email us at lbs@lonbachsoc.co.uk . The link for you to enter will be sent to you just ahead of the date.

We thank all our Bach Friends, donors and supporters for maintaining their support during this challenging period. We thank them for the messages received and the encouragement that accompanies them. Our ability to fulfill our charitable purpose depends on the receipt of donations from Bach Friends and through grants from private and public authorities. So if you would like to support us, please get in touch and donate via Bach Friends link below.

If you would like to add your name and keep in touch, then email lbs@lonbachsoc.co.uk to give your consent. Better still, we invite you to join Bach Friends

Please note our new email address:

lbs@lonbachsoc.co.uk

With best wishes

Margaret Steinitz, Artistic Director Updated 22 March 2021

The theme for the online performances we are presenting this spring is “Bach: Family and Friends”. An introductory article can be accessed here.

We have just completed the filming of two organ recitals. Up next is a chamber music programme and Cantata 204 performed by Rowan Pierce and Steinitz Bach Players directed by Rodolfo Richter (solo violin)

Updated 22 March 2021

Government Culture Recovery Fund

We are delighted to announce that London Bach Society has been awarded a grant of £50,000 from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. What a fantastic outcome! This award will not only enable us to continue through the pandemic, but to develop our Online Performances Programme that will provide some work for our musicians now, in between festivals and to broadcast from future Bachfests, ensuring that no one is excluded from access to the LBS, what it does and how it can benefit.

” I am elated that LBS has been given this award. It is not a lifeline, but an opportunity to continue our development in this often troubled 21st Century. In the coming months, we will be working hard behind the scenes initially setting up some online performances and using this medium until the virus abates and we can perform before a ‘live’ audience safely. My everlasting thanks to all who have supported and sustained us. We have much to anticipate and a 75th anniversary to enjoy next year….and we shall, one way or another.”

Margaret Steinitz Artistic Director

Click here to read the Press Release issued on 27 October 2020

#HereForCulture #CultureRecoveryFund #LBS75th2021

Updated 22 March 2021

Our latest e-Bach Notes. Click here to access.

Here is the pre-pandemic edition of Bach Notes Click here to access. We hope to publish a printed edition in September and a new online version in the spring.

Post Updated 22 March 2021

Back in the early spring we were delighted to announce that London Bach Society is be a patron of the special 2020 Leipzig Bachfest – 11 -21 June “BACH – We are Family” . This special series was to have brought together Bach Societies, choirs and organisations to make music in Bach’s city, Leipzig. With the greatest possible regret we have to tell you that due to the on going Covid-19 crisis pandemic, this special series has had to be cancelled and is now scheduled to take place from 10-19 June 2022. London Bach Society retains the honour of being one of the Patrons and we are looking forward to that.

Details about the Leipzig Bachfest series in 2021 and 2022 can be found on the Festival’s website as events are confirmed and tickets put on sale. www.bachfestleipzig.de Hope to see you there in 2022!

Please scroll down for other posts.

New Historical Articles have been uploaded on to the Bachfest, Events etc page.

To access click here. Articles include

Throwback Bachfest 2018 The Thirty Years War : Europe’s Coronavirus? 1618-1648

Throwback Bachfest 2019 Historical Papers marking “Victoria & Albert’s 200th”

2020 Bachfest Online theme: Bach: Family and Friends

Updated 22 March 2021