Bath BachFest Review: A Joyous and Mesmerising Musical Experience
Adrian Brendel has taken on the significant role of artistic director at Bath BachFest, succeeding the late Amelia Freedman, and his inaugural leadership infused the two-day festival with renewed vitality. His establishment of the BachFest Ensemble, which brings together highly talented musicians in the early stages of notable careers, was a standout feature, showcasing a palpable energy and commitment from the younger players.
Collaborative Performances and Artistic Highlights
In a concert featuring works by Handel, Purcell, Bach, and Vivaldi, the collaboration between these emerging artists and an older cohort, including Brendel himself on cello, oboist Nicholas Daniel, and American countertenor Reginald Mobley, created a genuine sense of joy in performance that resonated deeply with the audience. Stephen Waarts delivered an immaculate performance in Handel's Violin Sonata in D major, with his purity of sound and masterful phrasing. Mobley's rendition of Purcell's songs, particularly O Solitude, emphasised the primacy of words, while his expressivity in Bach's Ich Habe Genug, paired with Daniel's heart-stoppingly beautiful obbligato oboe, was profoundly touching.
Nicholas Daniel astonished attendees with his performance of Handel's recently discovered Oboe Concerto in C minor, blending elegant lyricism with flamboyant virtuosity. His obbligato in Mobley's spirited aria Fammi Combattere from Handel's Orlando provided a final flourish that captivated all present.
Piano Recital and Goldberg Variations Finale
During a lunchtime recital, young Finnish-Cuban pianist Anton Mejias offered characterful playing of preludes and fugues, mainly from Book II of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, highlighting the feverishly fertile nature of Bach's musical mind. However, the extraordinary inventiveness of the Goldberg Variations stood out even more. The inspired programming of Dmitry Sitkovetsky's arrangement for string trio, created for the 1985 tricentenary of Bach's birth, served as the perfect finale. This performance featured Brendel partnering with violinist Tim Crawford and violist Noga Shaham, delivering an intense and mesmerising experience with serenity, anguish, exuberance, and a quietly incantatory return of the Aria.
The original title page of the Goldbergs' score suggests Bach intended this music to delight the souls of music-lovers, and this performance certainly achieved that. The next Bath BachFest is scheduled for 25-27 February 2027, promising more exceptional musical moments.
