Texas Bach Festival to Serenade Georgetown June 26 – July 7
For the Texas Bach Festival’s seventh season, music lovers can look forward to enjoying the festival in a new home as well as transformative melodies and repertoire, all centered on this year’s transcending theme, Bach Across Time. “We aren’t only looking back on TBF’s memorable six-year run, but more importantly, looking at the music of Bach, who set the table for 300 years of composers after him,” TBF Artistic Director Dr. Barry Scott Williamson says. “Bach was very forward-looking . . . He wrote music that was in many ways beyond his time.”
Every genre of music, from classical to blues, rock and roll, jazz, and gospel, owes its life to Bach’s standardization of tonality, he adds. “So as we look ‘Bach across time,’ we are thanking Bach and honoring him for his selfless work, which made it possible for us to enjoy his music 300 years later and myriad other composers who were influenced by him.”
New Home, New Faces
This year, Dr. Williamson is excited about TBF’s new home at First United Methodist Church in Georgetown and new faces – Marc Profant, FUMC’s music director, who will coordinate TBF’s performances there, and TBF’s new executive director, Mark Humphrey. Dr. Williamson adds, “We are very much looking forward to presenting three performances in FUMC’s lovely sanctuary with its spaciousness and fine acoustic, and in such a convenient location for Georgetown’s music lovers to attend.”
The festival kicked off in March with an organ concert at Grace Episcopal Church followed by an eclectic “Songs of Life” performance by Dr. Williamson that featured music across various genres as part of the library’s live music series. “Songs of Life progressed a bit beyond our usual array of classical works to a mixture of iconic pop and classical songs in a surprising variety that was both engaging and enthralling for our listeners,” Dr. Williamson says.
Another unique festival experience guests can look forward to is “The Four Seasons” concert, which will feature a rarely performed full version of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. They can also enjoy the world-class artistry of violin soloist Patrice Calixte, and the added charm of hearing Vivaldi’s own poetry preceding each of the four concertos.
Just as momentous will be the July 7 festival finale, which will feature the TBF Choir and Camerata Orchestra performing two iconic Baroque sacred masterworks – the Vivaldi Gloria and Bach Magnificat – with Dr. Williamson conducting.
Concert tickets are $15 for students, $25 for seniors, and $30 for general admission. TBF also welcomes donations to support the continuation of Central Texas’ only classical music festival, ensuring this cherished music experience will thrive for years to come.
Visit texasbachfestival.org to learn more about the Texas Bach Festival.
June 26 – 11am: “Tastes Like Bach!” with pianist Andrew Brownell performing the music of J.S. Bach, Rameau, Pachelbel, and Shostakovich at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W 8th St. A Dutch treat lunch will follow at City Post Chophouse, 113 E. 8th St. (limited to 35 people) with lunch reservations required. Email [email protected] to reserve your spot.
June 30 – 4pm: “The Four Seasons” with the TBF Camerata Orchestra performing the complete version of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik in G Major, KV 525. First United Methodist Church, 410 E. University Ave.
July 2 – 7pm: “Masterworks and Surprises” with The Artisan Quartet performing Beethoven’s Op 18, no. 3, Oswaldo Golijov’s Tenebrae, and Schubert’s “Death and the Maiden”, D. 810. First United Methodist Church, 410 E. University Ave.
July 7 – 4pm: “Bach and Vivaldi Through Eternity” will feature the TBF Choir and Camerata Orchestra, with Dr. Barry Scott Williamson as conductor, performing Vivaldi’s “Gloria”, RV 589 and Bach’s “Magnificat”, BWV 243. First United Methodist Church, 410 E. University Ave.