Leipzig, Stuttgart, and the city of Elche host a single week rich with classical music and communal celebration, marking an important annual moment in the cultural calendar. Across twelve editions, the festival has weathered pauses — two editions paused due to the pandemic years ago — and has resumed its rhythm with four concerts each week when on stage. This consistency reflects the organizers’ clear commitment to continuity and artistic ambition, turning a once-a-year gathering into a dependable milestone for listeners who crave high-level chamber and orchestral programming.
Last Friday opened a notable stretch by reviving two unpublished works by the composer Matías Navarro, underscoring the festival’s openness to unearthing overlooked pieces and broadening the contemporary repertoire within a tradition rooted in history. In today’s lineup, solo cellist Coro Hernández is slated to give a recital at the Las Clarisas Cultural Center Convent, a performance that blends intimate timbre with precise technique. Earlier in the day, educational concerts reached schoolchildren in the same district, introducing younger audiences to the language and joy of classical music and creating a bridge between concert halls and classrooms that resonates beyond the stage. [Attribution: Festival Programming Team]
On Thursday, organist Nuno Kawagughi is scheduled to present a concert at the Santa María Basilica in Lübeck. The program surveys essential Baroque and Romantic works, including the Prelude in D minor, pieces by Gallas from Cabanilles, Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in G minor BWV 543, and Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in G minor BWV 535, culminating with Liszt’s Fantasy and Fugue for Bach. This sequence showcases the organ’s reach across centuries, inviting listeners to a dialogue between intricate pedal lines and expansive, improvisatory moments that highlight organ virtuosity in a sacred setting. [Attribution: Concert Schedule Notes]
The week’s climax arrives on Friday at the Basilica of Santa María, where the Canticum Novum Choir joins the Musiké Hemera Orchestra for a performance centered on Bach’s Magnificat BWV 243. Rubén Pacheco leads the cycle with clear purpose, bringing Bach’s choral and orchestral textures to a broad audience with accessibility and engagement in mind. The program emphasizes Bach’s choral writing and the luminous contours of the Magnificat, while ensuring the experience speaks to listeners of all ages, including younger listeners who are discovering the composer’s depth for the first time. The concert is part of an ongoing effort to share Bach’s music with the public, reinforcing the belief that these works illuminate shared experiences and communal joy. [Attribution: Festival Organizing Committee]
Historically sponsored by the City Council with support from the Elche City Council, Bach Week takes place annually after Easter. After recent interruptions, a remarkable concert last May signaled renewed momentum and community interest. Organizers note that audiences are curious and engaged, and the festival has established itself as a musical reference point for both residents and visitors. This renewed attention reflects a broader trend in audience development, where curiosity translates into attendance and sustained participation in cultural life. [Attribution: Municipal Cultural Office]
Across these twelve editions, expectations have consistently been met, reinforcing the festival’s reputation for reliability and quality. A historical note reveals that the event began in the Church of San José, a venue whose capacity limits prompted a move to the Basilica of Santa María for the final concert due to crowding. The decision illustrates a flexible approach to programming and venue management, ensuring that audiences can experience performances in a space that accommodates acoustics and comfort. This adaptability has become part of the festival’s identity, signaling to attendees that organizers prioritize accessibility without compromising artistic standards. [Attribution: Festival History]
Educators and festival leaders alike emphasize the overarching aim of delivering high-caliber music while making it appealing and approachable for the public. The goal is not merely to stage performances but to cultivate an engaged listening community, nurture a loyal audience base, and sustain interest through immersive, inclusive programming. Achieving this balance is described as a challenge, yet it is something the organizers consistently realize, turning each edition into an opportunity for discovery, inspiration, and shared cultural experience. [Attribution: Educational Outreach Report]