Test of strength at the Bach Festival Schaffhausen

The orchestral prelude to the cantata begins magnificently The righteous must have the lightThree trumpets, two timpani, two transverse flutes, two oboes, the strings and the continuo group compete in radiant D major. The instrumentalists playing in the St. Johann church in Schaffhausen are members of the Italian ensemble La Venexiana. Now the soloists and the choir should start. But where is the choir? It quickly becomes clear that the four vocal soloists also sing the ripieno parts, so that Bach's intended alternation between solo and choral sections is leveled out. In addition, the soprano Francesca Boncompagni, the countertenor Raffaele Pè, the tenor Alessio Tosi and the bass Tomáš Král have a difficult time against the orchestra. However, the balance is excellent in the cantata The Lord remembers usaccompanied only by strings. Conductor Claudio Cavina and his ensemble present three of Johann Sebastian Bach's five wedding cantatas in this concert. And the third in particular, the two-part cantata God is our confidence with its originally orchestrated arias, shows that this group of Bach's works has been unjustly neglected. The popular fourth orchestral suite forms a contrast to the unknown vocal compositions. La Venexiana impresses here with its high technical level, colorful sound and infectious joy of playing. However, unlike Il giardino armonico, for example, the ensemble does not seek radical escalation, but prefers a rounded, warm sound.

"Bach festive" was the motto of this year's International Bach Festival Schaffhausen, which took place over five days on the Ascension weekend. The occasion for the motto was the 25th edition this year. One focus was on Bach's secular cantatas, such as those performed by the Ensemble Mitteldeutsche Hofmusik and the concert by the Schaffhausen Oratorio Choir with the Ensemble La fontaine. To mark the anniversary, the Bach Society Schaffhausen commissioned a composition from the musician Rudolf Lutz. His Schaffhausen festive cantata with texts by Karl Graf is an affectionate, humorous characterization of the city of Schaffhausen, musically in the guise of a Bach cantata. The intention to attract a new and younger audience was evident in the organ concert by jazz musician and improviser Barbara Dennerlein in the cathedral and in the performance Red Bull Flying Bach at the Stadttheater, where the breakdance group Flying Steps, directed by Christoph Hagel, performed to the sounds of Bach's Well-tempered piano danced.

The crisis of 2012
The Bach Festival was established in 1946 as a sign of reconciliation after the Second World War. It was founded by the then mayor Walter Bringolf and a circle of cultural exponents, from which the International Bach Society Schaffhausen (IBG) emerged. This dual authorship has thus existed from the very beginning, and to this day the Bach Festivals are organized by the town of Schaffhausen in collaboration with the Bach Society. Musicologist and Bach researcher Hans-Joachim Hinrichsen, board member and president of the IBG until 2012, admits that the phrase "in collaboration with" harbors potential for conflict. Hinrichsen explains that the Bach Society is responsible for the content, while the city is responsible for the financial and organizational aspects. Jens Lampater, the cultural officer of the city of Schaffhausen, who takes on the role of managing director at the Bach Festival, sees things somewhat differently: "The city is responsible for the entire operational part," he says, "and the Bach Society is a kind of think tank."

Musicologist Dominik Sackmann, who was Vice President of the IBG until 2012 and Hinrichsen's intended successor, does not agree with this view at all. Sackmann, who played a key role in the program of the 2012 Bach Festival, says clearly: "The know-how lies with the Bach Society." It should therefore determine the motto, content and performers alone in order to guarantee coherent and artistically sophisticated programs. Sackmann was particularly opposed to Lampater and Heini Stamm interfering in questions of content. Stamm, President of the Musik-Collegium Schaffhausen, is employed by the city to manage the Bach Festival concerts. Sackmann also wanted to create the post of artistic director for the Bach Festival, who would be appointed by the IBG. After Sackmann was rebuffed with his ideas, he threw in the towel, renounced the presidency and resigned from the board of the Bach Society. And Hinrichsen, who had long since announced his resignation, was not prepared to extend his presidency.

In this crisis situation, the lawyer Andreas Bohrer-Peyer was appointed as mediator between the City of Schaffhausen and the Bach Society. As a result, the responsibilities were reorganized. As an emergency solution, Andreas Heieck and Peter Liebmann made themselves available as co-presidents of the IBG. After Heieck's departure, architect Christoph G. Froehlich, who had previously been secretary of the IBG, and Andreas Bohrer took over the co-presidency of the society in 2013. Froehlich, who has followed the Bach Festival since its beginnings, clearly sees his role as an interim solution. "If we find a suitable successor," he says, "I will step down in 2017." In the meantime, he has already brought some younger people onto the board.
A newly appointed program committee is now responsible for the content and performers of the Bach Festival. Its members include Christoph G. Fröhlich from the Bach Society, church musician Johannes Strobl, conductor Annedore Neufeld and doctor and musician Peter Liebmann. The city is represented by Jens Lampater and Heini Stamm. An OC is responsible for the overall organization, which includes Lampater, Stamm, Froehlich and City President Thomas Feurer. Various people involved agree that the cooperation between the city and the Bach Society is now working very well again.