Bachfest Leipzig inspires 75,000 visitors with virtual transformation!

Bachfest Leipzig inspires 75,000 visitors with virtual transformation!

The Bach Festival in Leipzig was a complete success and attracted around 75,000 visitors from 53 nations. The festival took place from June 12th to 22nd, 2025 under the motto “Transformation”, which was intended to shed light on the numerous changes in the work and life of the composer Johann Sebastian Bach. This joy of innovation was expressed in around 200 events, ranging from traditional church music to experimental formats. Intendant Michael Maul was extremely positive about the success of the concept.

One of the highlights of this year's program was an augmented reality concert in which Bach was present as an avatar. This innovative performance attracted numerous interested parties on June 13th. The traditional formats were not neglected either. The opening concert was performed by the famous St. Thomas Choir and the Gewandhaus Orchestra in St. Thomas Church, where the final performance of the Mass in B minor also took place.

A diverse program

The festival offered something for everyone. The over 3,500 participants included around 38 choirs, almost 1,800 singers and 34 orchestras. Visitors had the opportunity to experience Bach's music live in the churches as well as on Leipzig's waterways and even on the tram. For example, the musical play “Bach's Faust” was performed in Auerbach's cellar to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the famous restaurant.

The scope of the festival extended across the entire cityscape, with themes such as transience and eternal life being brought to life in Bach's cantatas. Among the participants were well-known artists such as Sir John Eliot Gardiner and Diego Fasolis, who presented top-class performances in the Thomaskirche and Nikolaikirche. The diverse concert formats ranged from thematic open-air services on the market to the free open-air concerts on the opening weekend on the so-called Bach Stage.

Special features and varied promotions

Café owners and street weavers in Leipzig also benefited from the high demand during the festival. In addition to the musical events, participants could look forward to numerous thematic tours that illuminated the city's history and Bach's influence on culture. There were even specially tailored programs for children and families called “bach für uns”.

As part of the celebrations, the Bach Archive Leipzig hosted lectures and discussions to honor the institution's 75th anniversary. There was also a special exhibition in the Bach Museum about the “Milestones of Bach Research”. For anyone interested, information and ticket offers were available on the festival's website so they could enjoy the event to the fullest.

Overall, the Bach Festival 2025 not only celebrated a musical festival, but also showed how deeply rooted Bach is in the culture and life of the city of Leipzig, which was impressively underlined by the great response and positive feedback from visitors.