Join the Peoria Bach Festival from May 31-June 7, 2015 for another week of celebrating the music, art, and faith of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). Altogether there will be eight concerts, several free lectures, two festival worship services, and an event for children.
The primary work for the Peoria Bach Festival 2015 will be Cantata 147 “Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben” (“Heart and Mouth and Deeds and Life”) from which comes the ubiquitous and iconic work “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” Composed for the Feast of the Annunciation – the time when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visited her cousin Elizabeth – the other cantatas chosen for this year’s festival reflect a Christmas theme (Cantatas 190, 133, and 65).
Instrumental music for the major concerts include the Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, BWV 1051 and the Violin Concerto in E Major, BWV 1006 featuring Laraine Kaizer-Viazovtsev, a Peoria native. Laraine’s husband, flutist Alexander Viazovtsev, will join her for the Thursday Chamber Concert as they play music for flute and violin by Bach, Telemann, and Bach’s son C.P.E. Other special programs include a noon recital by Dr. John Orfe entitled “The Chromatic Bach” and an organ recital by Dr. Matthew Dirst, a Morton native who will be returning to Peoria to present a concert co-sponsored by the Peoria Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. In addition, preeminent Bach scholar Calvin Stapert will present a free noon lecture as well as offer preconcert lectures for both the Friday and Saturday evening concerts.
All events will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 135 NE Randolph Ave., Peoria, Illinois. For more information, please visit www.peoriabachfestival.org or call (309) 676-4609 for a complete Peoria Bach Festival 2015 schedule.
