Period

:

Baroque

 

 

Classical

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

The German Bach Soloists is a renowned classical music ensemble that specializes in the performance of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and other Baroque composers. The ensemble was founded in 1995 by the German conductor and harpsichordist Helmut Winschermann, who served as its artistic director until 2017. Winschermann, who was born in 1933 in Hildesheim, Germany, had a distinguished career as a conductor and performer before founding the German Bach Soloists. He studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Hanover and later at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. He served as the principal oboist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from 1959 to 1963 and later became a professor of music at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne. In 1995, Winschermann founded the German Bach Soloists with the aim of creating a chamber orchestra that would specialize in the performance of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and other Baroque composers. The ensemble was initially made up of a core group of 12 musicians, including Winschermann himself on the harpsichord. Over the years, the ensemble has expanded to include up to 30 musicians, depending on the repertoire being performed. The German Bach Soloists have performed extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and North America, and have received critical acclaim for their performances. The ensemble has collaborated with many renowned soloists, including the violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, the cellist Mischa Maisky, and the pianist András Schiff. One of the highlights of the German Bach Soloists' career was their performance of Bach's complete Brandenburg Concertos at the Salzburg Festival in 2000. The ensemble received a standing ovation from the audience and critical acclaim from the press. The performance was later released on CD and DVD and has become a bestseller. Another notable performance by the German Bach Soloists was their collaboration with the Japanese dancer and choreographer Saburo Teshigawara in 2004. The ensemble performed Bach's Goldberg Variations while Teshigawara danced on stage. The performance was hailed as a groundbreaking fusion of music and dance and was widely praised by critics. The German Bach Soloists have also received numerous awards and accolades for their performances. In 2001, the ensemble was awarded the Echo Klassik award for their recording of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. In 2005, they received the German Record Critics' Award for their recording of Bach's Orchestral Suites. And in 2010, they were awarded the Bach Medal by the city of Leipzig, Germany, in recognition of their contributions to the performance of Bach's music. Despite the retirement of Helmut Winschermann in 2017, the German Bach Soloists continue to perform and record under the direction of their current artistic director, Christian Kabitz. The ensemble remains committed to the performance of Baroque music and the legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach, and continues to inspire audiences around the world with their virtuosic performances.

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