Round Table: What Is Bach's Worst Enemy? is an English-language panel discussion held in Montreal, Canada, as part of the Festival International Bach Montréal. It is a conversation rather than a concert, and it suits visitors who want to hear the ideas behind the music as much as the music itself.
The format
The panel brings together Michael Maul, Director of Bachfest Leipzig, and Ronald Vermeulen, Director of Programming at the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. The discussion is moderated by Alexandra von Oppenheim, Artistic Director of the festival. Because it is held in English, it is open to anyone who prefers to follow a discussion in that language.
What the discussion covers
The question at the heart of the event is deliberately provocative: what is the biggest threat to Bach's reputation? The panel looks at:
- labels, and how they shape the way audiences first approach the composer
- habits, both in performance and in listening
- why Bach's music survives every reinterpretation, whatever style or instrument it is given
Who it is for
The round table suits music lovers, students, and anyone curious about how classical repertoire is presented today. Listeners who know Bach well may find the debate sharpens their own views, while newcomers get a clear route into the questions that performers and programmers ask themselves.
For details of dates, tickets and programme, see the festival's page for the event at festivalbachmontreal.com.