Tuesday 13 February 2018 at 8:30pm
JOANNA GOLDSMITH-ETESON, soprano
SARA DAVEY, soprano
ELIZABETH SWAIN, alto
OLIVER GRIFFITHS, tenor
JON SMITH, tenor
KEVIN FOX, baritone
EDWARD RANDELL, bass
JSB stands for... Jazz Sebastian Bach! Johann Sebastian would definitely be a fan of this worldwide admired a cappella ensemble that gives a contemporary touch to his music. The celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Al Bustan Festival begins with the swinging rythms and the joyful singing of ‘The Swingles’!
More info
Thursday 15 February 2018 at 8:30pm
SAINT-LOUIS DES CAPUCINS CHURCH, BEIRUT
GEMMA SUMMERFIELD, soprano
ANNA HARVEY, mezzo soprano
NICHOLAS MULROY, tenor
MATTHEW BROOK, bass-baritone
LEMBIT ORGSE, harpsichord
COLLEGIUM MUSICALE CHOIR
CORELLI BAROQUE ORCHESTRA
GIANLUCA MARCIANÒ, conductor
The young Mary has just received the Annunciation and decided to travel to her cousin Elisabeth to share her inner joy. The genius of Bach gives voice to the young Virgin Mary and transforms the Annunciation, one of the most poetical and powerful events of the New Testament, into an emotional and glorious music.
More infoBook Now
Sunday 18 February 2018 at 8:30pm
SAINT-ELIE CHURCH, KANTARI
GEMMA SUMMERFIELD, soprano
ANNA HARVEY, mezzo soprano
NICHOLAS MULROY, tenor
MATTHEW BROOK, bass-baritone
COLLEGIUM MUSICALE CHOIR
CORELLI BAROQUE ORCHESTRA
GIANLUCA MARCIANÒ, conductor
Bach originally wrote five Passions, three of those are lost forever, but the St John Passion survives in all its glory. It is definitely a masterpiece of musical beauty.
More infoBook Now
Monday 19 February 2018 at 8:30pm
SACRÉ-COEUR COLLEGE, GEMMAYZEH
THOMAS OSPITAL, organist
The Toccata and Fugue in D minor is a well known organ tune of Bach, played in Walt Disney’s Fantasia, Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, Scorsese’s Aviator… Thomas Ospital is the newly appointed organist in residence at the Maison de la Radio (Radio France) and the titular organist at the Saint Eustache Church in Paris.
More infoBook Now
Wednesday 21 February 2018 at 8:30pm
SAINT-JOSEPH JESUIT CHURCH
GEMMA SUMMERFIELD, soprano
FFLUR WYN, soprano
ANNA HARVEY, mezzo soprano
NICHOLAS PRITCHARD, tenor
MATTHEW BROOK, bass-baritone
COLLEGIUM MUSICALE CHOIR
CORELLI BAROQUE ORCHESTRA
GIANLUCA MARCIANÒ, conductor
Referred as “A milestone in the History of Music”, by the UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme. Conceived over a period of more than 20 years, the Missa in B minor was completed a year before Bach’s death in 1750.
More infoBook Now
Friday 23 February 2018 at 8:30pm
MARTIN STADTFELD, piano
Laureate of the International Bach Competition of Leipzig and Sony Classical Artists, Martin Stadtfeld plays The Goldberg Variations, one of the most demanding keyboard pieces. The Goldberg Variations is a key piece in Bach’s repertoire for piano. You will love this beautiful composition where the main aria returns in 30 variations.
More infoBook Now
Sunday 25 February 2018 at 8:30pm
Red Bull Flying Bach
In a perfect match of different cultures, the four time Breakdance World Champions Flying Steps turns the classical music world upside down. This one of a kind innovative adaptation of JS Bach’s “well-tempered clavier”, breaks down the barriers between high and urban culture. Step by step, with piano, harpsichord, electronic beats, head spins, power moves and a love story of its own, Flying Steps breaks the law of gravity and overcomes the borders of imagination.
More infoBook Now
Monday 26 February 2018 at 8:30pm
STEVEN ISSERLIS, cello
LUCERNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Bach family counted so many generations of composers that the name “Bach” became a synonym of musician in Germany. The celebrated world renowned cellist Steven Isserlis and the distinguished Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, Switzerland’s oldest symphony orchestra, take us on a memorable journey from Baroque to Classicism.
More infoBook Now
Tuesday 27 February 2018 at 8:30pm
STEVEN ISSERLIS, cello
MAGGIE COLE, harpsichord
LUCERNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The second “rendez-vous” with these prestigious guests is an all JS Bach evening. The refined harpsichordist Maggie Cole interprets with Steven Isserlis the Cello Sonata No. 2, portraying Bach at his best. The Brandenburg Concerto, one of Bach’s most popular pieces, is played by Britain’s greatest cellist, Steven Isserlis.
More infoBook Now
Wednesday 28 February 2018 at 8:30pm
JEAN RONDEAU, harpsichord
THOMAS DUFORD, lute
KEYVAN CHEMIRANI, zarb/santou
Three highly talented musicians combine European Baroque with traditional Persian music and produce an inspiring fusion of different cultures. The Washington Post declared Jean Rondeau “One of the most natural performers one is likely to hear on a classical music stage these days… a master of his instrument”.
More infoBook Now
Thursday 1 March 2018 at 8:30pm
CRYSTAL GARDEN, Hotel Al Bustan
MIREILLE MAALOUF, actress
RIFAAT TORBEY, actor
ROMAN STOROJENKO, cello
Two masters of Lebanese theatre, Mireille Maalouf and Rifaat Torbey meet for an evening honouring Arab poets such as Gebran Khalil Gebran, Said Akl, Mahmoud Darwish and many others… They are accompanied by Roman Storojenko, first cellist of the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra who will play extracts of Bach’s cello suites.
More infoBook Now
Saturday 3 March 2018 at 8:30pm
NATALIA MOROZOVA, piano
Natalia Morozova was born in Moscow, where she began her piano studies at the age of six. She has won several international prizes such as the Nikolai Rubenstein Competition in Moscow in 1997 and the Taneyev International Chamber Music Competition in Kaluga, Russia. Chamber music partners include Renaud Capuçon, Yuri Bashmet, Julian Rachlin and Gautier Capuçon, amongst others. Her performance promises to be full of charm and sensitivity.
More infoBook Now
Monday 5 March 2018 at 8:30pm
GAUTIER CAPUÇON, cello
JÉRÔME DUCROS, piano
Gautier Capuçon is recognised all over the world as one of the most charismatic, enchanting and exuberant cellists performing today. For his third appearance at the Al Bustan Festival, and playing for the second time with Jérôme Ducros, Gautier pays tribute to Bach with the third Sonata and interprets pieces for cello, by Dvořák, Tchaikovsky, Fauré, Grieg and Piazzolla.
More infoBook Now
Thursday 8 March 2018 at 8:30pm
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM
ANTONIO MENESES, cello
Gold Prize winner of the 1982 Tchaikovsky Cello Competition in Moscow, Antonio Meneses is one of the most outstanding world cellists. His third performance at the Al Bustan Festival is a unique opportunity to enjoy listening to the beautiful Bach Cello Suites in the unique setting of the National Museum.
More infoBook Now
Saturday 10 March 2018 at 7:00pm
MAR CHARBEL CHURCH, MAAD - BYBLOS
VICTOR JULIEN-LAFERRIÈRE, cello
Victor Julien-Laferrière returns to the Festival for the third time, as the first prize winner of the prestigious 2017 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. He performs three Bach Suites in the medieval church of Saint Charbel in Maad, Byblos. This evening promises to be enchanting and memorable.
More infoBook Now
Sunday 11 March 2018 at 8:30pm
BEYT AMIR, CLEMENCEAU
MAHAN ESFAHANI, harpsichord
Today’s most thrilling harpsichordist, Mahan Esfahani has been described by the New York Times as “being exhaustively brilliant”. “He is unquestionably a player of great technical brilliance and musical intelligence, and there is always the sense of that pioneering zeal in the way he plays the baroque repertoire too”, The Guardian. The recital takes place at Beyt Amir, a most charming Lebanese house, and is followed by a cocktail reception.
More infoBook Now
Tuesday 13 March 2018 at 8:30pm
SAINT ELIE CHURCH, KANTARI
ANDREAS SCHOLL, countertenor
ACCADEMIA BIZANTINA
OTTAVIO DANTONE, organ/conductor
The sublime voice of Andreas Scholl accompanies the highly reputed Accademia Bizantina from Ravenna, to play an exceptional selection of Bach Cantatas.
More infoBook Now
Wednesday 14 March 2018 at 8pm
LA RÉSIDENCE DES PINS
JOACHIM SON-FORGET, harpsichord
Joachim Son-Forget is a 34 year old member of the French National Assembly from the movement La République en Marche!, representing the French citizens overseas in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. He is also a medical doctor specialised in radiology, he holds a PhD in cognitive neuroscience, and happens to have an immense passion for playing the harpsichord. This distinguished musician will play the music of composers before, after, and around Bach, whilst interacting with the audience and unfolding his musical choice.
More info
Thursday 15 March 2018 at 8:30pm
MAR CHARBEL CHURCH, CORNICHE MAZRAA, UNESCO
ACCADEMIA BIZANTINA BAROQUE ORCHESTRA
OTTAVIO DANTONE, harpsichord / conductor
Bach and Vivaldi never met, but when Bach moved to Weimar, Germany in 1708, Vivaldi’s music was very popular. Bach was very interested in Vivaldi’s Italian style and transcribed many of his compositions. This is a great opportunity to listen to the works of these two composers played by the Accademia Bizantina, one of the best known baroque music ensembles in the world, directed by Ottavio Dantone. Dantone conducted many of today’s great orchestras, including the Berlin Staatskapelle, the Orchestre National de France, the Philharmonic Orchestra of La Scala in Milan and the Orchestra of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome.
More infoBook Now
Saturday 17 March 2018 at 8:30pm
EDOUARD FERLET, piano
VIOLAINE COCHARD, harpsichord
Edouard Ferlet is a Jazz pianist who defines himself as unpredictable and unclassifiable. He “plays with Bach rather than plays Bach”, Telerama. Violaine Cochard is one of the finest ambassadresses of the harpsichord and also a great lover of Bach. Side by side, the two musicians carry on a dialogue about Bach’s music, between original text and improvisations, with struck strings and plucked strings. In the second part of the concert, the piano and the harpsichord will rock the stage together!
More infoBook Now
Monday 19 March 2018 at 8:30pm
SERGEI KRYLOV, violin/conductor
LANA TROTOVŠEK, violin
LITHUANIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
The Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra has a glorious 50 year history and ranks amongst the most masterly orchestras of the world. Based in Vilnius, it is said to have “a special affinity for the works of Bach and Mozart”. It is a privilege to have Maestro Sergei Krylov, the artistic director of the orchestra, both conducting and playing the Bach violin concertos. The highlight of the concert is the double violin concerto, featuring the radiant violinist Lana Trotovšek.
More infoBook Now
Tuesday 20 March 2018 at 8:30pm
FLORIAN WILLEITNER, violin
MARIA RADUTU, piano
IVAN TURKALJ, cello
Three fearless musicians perform original compositions inspired by various musical styles. This rare musical language combines classical virtuosity with cool and innovative rythms, breaking musical boundaries. They electrify the audience with their unique sound and thrilling performance.
More infoBook Now
Wednesday 21 March 2018 at 8:30pm
LITHUANIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
GIANLUCA MARCIANÒ, conductor
A great Finale that coincides with Bach’s birthday. We will celebrate all together with the most beautiful and magnificent works that Bach ever composed for the Orchestra.
More infoBook Now
