 The winter of 2010 has been so generous with piles of snow and mirrors of ice. From the bottom of my heart, I want to hope that this is so that the spring of this year can surprise us with the happy babbling of brooks and a diversity of musical sounds not just in Latvia’s meadows and fields, but also in our beloved Rîga. This spring we will mark the 10th anniversary of the International Bach Chamber Music Festival – an event that will allow each of us to find strength, balance and peace in music.
Music may be the only form of expression in which the best of the best can be determined from the dawn of humankind. As we look back across the centuries, we can argue about the best scientist, artist, writer or athlete. In music, however, the issue is simple and wonderful – one of the greatest composers of all time was Johann Sebastian Bach. Perhaps his contemporaries did not fully appreciate his universal music – music in which he reflected his deepest thoughts about the most important aspects of life. Present-day musical experts, however, believe that Bach’s music is completeness and nothing but completeness.
I would very much like to thank Aina Kalnciema. For this jubilee year, the director of the International Bach Chamber Music Festival has selected a very special concert programme – one in which outstanding and internationally recognised musicians will take part over the course of the entire year.
I am certain that this year the music of Bach will once again excite our souls and confirm words which were spoken about the musical genius of Bach by another genius of music – Beethoven: “Nicht Bach – Meer sollte er heißen!” (“He should not be called Brook – Sea is the right name for him!”)
Let us all experience this miracle of music together!
Lilita Zatlere
Spouse of the President of Latvia
Once again, and for the 10th time, this year's International Bach Chamber Music Festival celebrates the musical genius of Johann Sebastian Bach, a composer whose music shaped a whole era and continues to fascinate peopl e all over the world with its energy and vitality right up to the present day.
As German Ambassador I am honored to have again been offered the patronage for this special festival in its anniversary year, together with Mrs. Lilita Zatlere, wife of the Latvian President. The Bach Festival has become a permanent feature of the cultural year in Riga.
As in previous years, artists from Germany will be visiting Riga for the opening concert on March 19th. The ensemble „Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen“ is going to perform masterpieces by Johann Sebastian Bach and his sons. The program includes a cantata by Christian Friedrich Bach, that has only recently been discovered and will be premiered here in Riga.
The performance of the „Deutsche Kammarphilharmonie Bremen“ is sponsored by the Federal Republic of Germany. It is also a symbol for the city-partnership between the historic Hanseatic cities of Riga and Bremen, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2010 and has contributed to a great extent to the lively cultural exchange that Latvia and Germany enjoy.
For the whole year music lovers in Latvia can look forward to a large number of concerts by renowned artists from all over Europe during the course of the festival.
My recognition and thanks are especially directed to Mrs. Aina Kalnciema, the president of the Bach Music Foundation, and of course to all the other people who contribute to the success of the festival.
I await the 10th International Bach Festival with great anticipation and wish all the concert guests immense enjoyment.
Detlef Weigel
Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany
Mit dem diesjährigen Internationalen Bach Kammermusik-Festival wird nun schon zum 10. Mal das musikalische Genie Johann Sebastian Bach gefeiert, ein Komponist, dessen Musik eine ganze Episode geprägt hat und auch heute mit ihrer Lebensfreude und Energie weltweit die Menschen begeistert.
Es ist mir eine Ehre, in guter Tradition auch in diesem Jubiläumsjahr gemeinsam mit der Gattin des lettischen Staatspräsidenten Frau Lilita Zatlere als deutscher Botschafter die Schirmherrschaft über dieses besondere Festival zu übernehmen. Es ist inzwischen zu einem festen Bestandteil des Rigaer Kulturjahres geworden.
Zu dem Eröffnungskonzert am 19.März 2010 gastieren wie in den Vorjahren wieder deutsche Künstlerinnen und Künstler in Riga: Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen wird Meisterwerke von Johann Sebastian Bach und seinen Söhnen zum Erklingen bringen, darunter eine Kantate von Johann Christian Friedrich Bach, welche erst vor Kurzem entdeckt wurde und hier in Riga zur Uraufführung kommen wird.
Der von der Bundesrepublik Deutschland unterstützte Auftritt der Kammerphilharmonie Bremen steht auch im Zeichen der Städtepartnerschaft zwischen den Hansestädten Riga und Bremen, die 2010 seit 25 Jahren besteht und viel zu einem intensiven Austausch zwischen Lettland und Deutschland beigetragen hat.
Das ganze Jahr hindurch dürfen sich Musikfreunde in Lettland dann im weiteren Verlauf des Festivals über zahlreiche Konzerte hochkarätiger Künstler aus ganz Europa freuen.
Mein Dank und meine Anerkennung gelten insbesondere Frau Aina Kalnciema, der Präsidentin des Bachmusikfonds, sowie allen anderen, die in diesem Jubiläumsjahr zum Gelingen des Festivals beitragen.
Mit großer Vorfreude sehe ich dem 10. Internationalen Bach-Festival entgegen und wünsche allen Besuchern viel Vergnügen bei dem Genuss der Konzerte.
Detlef Weigel
Botschafter der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
 Dear friends of Bach music! I am glad that the festival of the immortal J. S. Bach is approaching again. The German composer whose creations belong to the whole mankind gives mental force to every listener. His music knows no barriers among countries and nations; it has the power of bringing together both listeners and performers. It is already the 10th time when the Bach Music Foundation invites everybody to festival concerts and master classes - everybody who wishes to endow their souls with the touch of immortality.
Let us all have a nice celebration!
Aina Kalnciema
President of the Bach Music Foundation
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