What if Bach became the soundtrack to your spring? It’s all the more likely if you’re passing through the US or Canada, where festivals are once again rolling out the red carpet for him! 
By 
Let’s forget about Donald Trump for a moment (if that’s even possible…). This spring is set to be all about early music in Canada and the United States. Several festivals are paying tribute to one of the most beloved and universally revered composers of the Baroque repertoire: Johann Sebastian Bach, master of counterpoint. Total Baroque takes a closer look at two major events this season: the Bach Virtuosi Festival (New York & Portland, Maine) and the Toronto Bach Festival (Canada).
New York & Portland (Maine, USA)
The 10th Edition of the Bach Virtuosi FestivalFounded by violinist and teacher Lewis Kaplan in Portland, Maine, the Bach Virtuosi Festival (BVF) offers an exceptional series of concerts this May and June, with performances in New York (15 and 20 May), followed by Portland (18–24 June). Taking place in some of the region’s most iconic venues, the festival brings together world-class interpreters of the Baroque repertoire.
The BVF gathers internationally acclaimed musicians, recipients of honours such as the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship (“Genius Grant”) and the Howard Mayer Brown Award for lifetime achievement, awarded by Early Music America. Although the ensemble isn’t permanent, it is built around a loyal core of artists who have performed together for nearly a decade: Lewis Kaplan (founder, violinist, conductor), violinists Ariadne Daskalakis and Renée Jolles, harpsichordist Arthur Haas, flautist Emi Ferguson, soprano Sherezade Panthaki, and countertenor Jay Carter. The ensemble is regularly joined by other renowned artists including violist Sebastian Gottschick, baroque trumpeter John Thiessen, and oboist John Ferrillo. All are soloists, chamber musicians, educators, and researchers, embodying a vision of Bach that is vibrant, exacting, and deeply inspired.
Following a successful 2024 edition, the BVF returns to New York with three new performances:
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