Bach and now! – Agathenburg Bach Days
Second edition of the international festival for Bach in dialogue with contemporary music
About Agathenburg Bach Days
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Bach in Dialogue with Contemporary Music
The concept of Bach and now! is programmatic: Johann Sebastian Bach's music is not performed in isolation but is placed in dialogue with contemporary compositions, improvisation, and crossover formats. The programming seeks connections between the sound world of the Thomaskantor and the tonal languages of the 20th and 21st centuries – a format that sparks great interest among both classical connoisseurs and younger audiences.
Agathenburg Castle as an Artistic Center
Agathenburg Castle, a baroque manor house in the Stade district, forms the artistic and logistical center of the festival. The castle's festival hall offers an intimate concert atmosphere with baroque acoustics. Accompanying exhibitions, workshops, and special events are organized at the castle. The castle's sponsorship by the Stade district makes it possible to integrate the festival into a broader cultural program.
New Venue: St. Mauritius Church Hollern
For the second edition, the church of St. Mauritius in Hollern opens as an additional venue. The historic village church in the Altes Land region complements the castle with a sacred performance space with its own acoustics and atmosphere. The church is an ideal stage for concerts featuring vocal music and works for harpsichord or organ.
The Gesualdo Six as a Highlight
The British vocal ensemble The Gesualdo Six is announced as the artistic highlight of the festival. The six vocalists are considered one of the most exciting young ensembles for Renaissance and Baroque music and have caused a stir in recent years with internationally acclaimed recordings. Their performance at the Bach Days promises an extraordinary concert experience.
Agathenburg Bach Days — edition 2026
Concept of Dialogue
Bach and now! is not a classic Bach festival – the programming seeks dialogue between Bach and the contemporary music scene. Crossover formats, improvisation, and new works are deliberately positioned alongside the major Bach cycles.
Two Venues with Unique Acoustics
The castle's festival hall and the church of St. Mauritius in Hollern complement each other acoustically and atmospherically. Vocal and chamber music programs will find their appropriate performance venue.
Programme Agathenburg Bach Days 2026
Program Bach and now! 2026
The complete program is continuously updated by the organizer and can be viewed at bachandnow.de. The structure of the second edition follows these key points:
Opening – Thursday, April 23, 2026
- Opening concert at Agathenburg Castle
- Bach in a new interpretation by soloists and ensembles
Friday, April 24, 2026
- Chamber concerts with Bach and contemporaries
- Workshop or lecture recital
- Concert at St. Mauritius Church Hollern
Saturday, April 25, 2026
- Day program with several concerts
- Highlight: Concert with The Gesualdo Six (United Kingdom)
- Late-night concert or crossover format in the evening
Sunday, April 26, 2026
- Matinee concert
- Closing concert at Agathenburg Castle
- Festival finale
Highlights Agathenburg Bach Days 2026
- Second edition of the Bach and now! festival at Agathenburg Castle
- Bach in dialogue with contemporary music
- Performance by the British vocal ensemble The Gesualdo Six
- New venue: St. Mauritius Church Hollern
- Festival pass 159 Euros – Individual concerts bookable separately
Prices Agathenburg Bach Days 2026
Practical information — Agathenburg Bach Days
Date
- Thursday, April 23 – Sunday, April 26, 2026
- Exact concert times available on the festival website
Venues
- Agathenburg Castle, 21684 Agathenburg
- St. Mauritius Church Hollern (new venue 2026)
- Stade District
Tickets
- Festival Pass: 159 Euros
- Individual concerts bookable separately
- Advance booking open – Reserve via bachandnow.de
Getting There
- Agathenburg train station on the Hamburg – Cuxhaven line
- Train connection from Hamburg in approx. 50 minutes
- Parking available at the castle
Highlight
- The Gesualdo Six (United Kingdom) as the central concert event
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Agathenburg Bach Days al mejor precio.
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