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Image: Jan Woitas/dpa/picture allianceImage: Jan Woitas/dpa/picture alliance

Johann Sebastian Bach

During his lifetime, German composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was considered an outstanding organist. But only posthumously did he come to be revered as one of the most significant composers of all time.

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All Content on this topic

Two men in dark suits stand with raised arms in front of a classical music orchestra.

Two men in dark suits stand with raised arms in front of a classical music orchestra.

Rheingau music festival presents global classical music

At this year's Rheingau festival, organizers are mixing classical music with diverse sounds from distant countries.

Black and white drawing of a woman dressed in medieval clothes.

Black and white drawing of a woman dressed in medieval clothes.

The strong women of the Bach family

Composer Johann Sebastian Bach is a classical superstar. But little was known about the women of his musical family.

People dressed in black gesticualting on a stage.

People dressed in black gesticualting on a stage.

Bach's music — diverse and accessible

Johann Sebastian Bach's cantatas not only inspire choirs worldwide, but also those who can't actually hear his music.

A mother laments over the grave of her son in Bucha, Ukraine

A mother laments over the grave of her son in Bucha, Ukraine

Soundtrack of our time: 300 years of Bach's St. John Passion

The masterpiece, an unparalleled appeal for more humanity, first premiered on Good Friday in 1724.

Erfurt Cathedral Hill lit up at night.

Erfurt Cathedral Hill lit up at night.

10 reasons to love Thuringia

Thuringia, Germany's most central location, is home to plenty of nature, history and some regional specialties.

DW Arts Unveiled (Sendungslogo Composite)

DW Arts Unveiled (Sendungslogo Composite)

Icelandic piano star Víkingur Ólafsson

This gifted musician inspires audiences with unconventional interpretations of well-known composers.

Avi Avital and Brooklyn Rider perform on their instruments

Avi Avital and Brooklyn Rider perform on their instruments

From Bach to Brazil with mandolinist Avi Avital

Mandolinist Avi Avital join forces with string quartet Brooklyn Rider to present old, new and genre-blending works.

A statue of JS Bach viewed between leaves

A statue of JS Bach viewed between leaves

How Bach made the old new again in his cantatas

This DW Festival Concert episode from the Bach Festival presents some of his creative, drama-packed cantatas.

Portrait of Johann Sebastian Bach

Portrait of Johann Sebastian Bach

300 years of Johann Sebastian Bach

In this episode of DW Festival Concert, we'll hear music from Leipzig's celebration of 300 years of Bach.

Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan removes her electronic tether after defeating Russian opponent Anna Smirnova at the world fencing championships in Milan, Italy

Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan removes her electronic tether after defeating Russian opponent Anna Smirnova at the world fencing championships in Milan, Italy

Disqualification of Ukraine fencer Kharlan reversed

Olga Kharlan's disqualification for not shaking hands with her Russian opponent has been rescinded.

Picture of a monument dedicated to the Thomaskantor and composer Johann Sebastian Bach in front of the Thomaskirche in the German city of Leipzig.

Picture of a monument dedicated to the Thomaskantor and composer Johann Sebastian Bach in front of the Thomaskirche in the German city of Leipzig.

Bach Festival 2023: Cantatas for eternity

Three hundred years ago, Johann Sebastian Bach came to Leipzig as cantor. The Bachfest celebrated this extensively.

statue of Johann Sebastian Bach holding a rolled-up document.

statue of Johann Sebastian Bach holding a rolled-up document.

Bach Festival 2023: Classical music goes cosmic

Marking Bach's arrival in Leipzig 300 years ago, the fest features pianist Lang Lang — and a message from outer space.

At age 16, Oksana Baiul waves to the crowd at the top of the women's figure skating podium of the 1994 Olympics.

At age 16, Oksana Baiul waves to the crowd at the top of the women's figure skating podium of the 1994 Olympics.

Ukraine's first Olympic winner urges Bach to ban Russians

Ukraine's first Olympic champion has appealed directly to IOC chief Bach to keep Russian athletes out of the Olympics.

Ukrainian refugees in Essen Germany holding signs protesting the possibility of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics

Ukrainian refugees in Essen Germany holding signs protesting the possibility of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics

IOC boss Bach insists on neutrality of sport

IOC President Bach is defending talks to let athletes from Russia and Belarus compete under a neutral flag in 2024.

Richie Beirach

Richie Beirach

DW Jazz Concerts: Richie Beirach and the Sirius Quartet

In this episode, we listen to a concert with the US pianist Richie Beirach and the New York City-based Sirius Quartet.

Denkmal für den Thomaskantor und Komponisten Johann Sebastian Bach vor der Thomaskirche in Leipzig

Denkmal für den Thomaskantor und Komponisten Johann Sebastian Bach vor der Thomaskirche in Leipzig

Celebrating Christmas with the Bachs

This DW Festival Concert features organ music from five composers, all part of Johann Sebastian Bach's extended family.

IOC chief Thomas Bach (left) shakes hands with Zelenskyy

IOC chief Thomas Bach (left) shakes hands with Zelenskyy

Ukraine rejects idea of Olympic 'neutral flag' for Russia

The US recently backed exploring the possibility of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under a neutral banner.

Leipzig | Stadt der Musik | Farsi Redaktion

Leipzig | Stadt der Musik | Farsi Redaktion

St. Matthew Passion at the Bach festival in Leipzig

This episode of DW Festival Concert with Cristina Burack features the St. Mathew Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach.

People walk past a Bachfest Leipzig poster

People walk past a Bachfest Leipzig poster

300 years of Bach's 'Well-Tempered Clavier'

The legendary German composer's creation is the most influential piano work in music history.

A boys' choir in front a church organ.

A boys' choir in front a church organ.

Bachfest opens with Ukrainian orchestra

This year's festival in Leipzig began with Bach's music and Ukrainian sounds. DW is the event's new media partner.

Monument to the Thomaskantor and composer Johann Sebastian Bach in front of the Thomaskirche in Leipzig

Monument to the Thomaskantor and composer Johann Sebastian Bach in front of the Thomaskirche in Leipzig

Bachfest Leipzig — Who was Bach?

Johann Sebastian Bach had many musical ancestors. The Leipzig Bach Festival works of his ancestors and sons.

Group photo of the Kamerkoris DeCoro, women in long white dresses.

Group photo of the Kamerkoris DeCoro, women in long white dresses.

Bachfest attracts choirs from around the world

Welcoming choirs from Paraguay to Japan, the annual festival in Leipzig's motto this year is "Bach — We are Family."

Xi Jinping meets Thomas Bach

Xi Jinping meets Thomas Bach

HRW slams IOC, FIFA over awarding of events

HRW's Germany director has criticized IOC president Thomas Bach for "pandering" to China.

DW Kommentarbild Sarah Wiertz

DW Kommentarbild Sarah Wiertz

Valieva, Bach and the hypocrisy of the Olympics

Hypocritical Thomas Bach must take responsibility for the tragedy that engulfed Kamila Valieva, writes Sarah Wiertz.

Engel Dagmar Kommentarbild App

Engel Dagmar Kommentarbild App

Beijing 2022 — A dubious Winter Olympics

Dagmar Engel

No fans, no politicians and no snow — just criticism. DW's Dagmar Engel asks if the winter games even have a future.

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Faith Matters - Bach’s Successor - The Thomaners’ New Conductor

The Swiss conductor Andreas Reize is the latest musician to join the Thomanerchor’s prestigious list of choirmasters. He’s the eighteenth musician to hold this post since Johann Sebastian Bach trained the famous Leipzig boys’ choir between 1723 and 1750. Even in Bach’s day, the Thomaner already had a long and glorious history; the choir was founded in the thirteenth century.

Concertgoers seen from behind, sit in pews in a Gothic church

Concertgoers seen from behind, sit in pews in a Gothic church

Bach's Christmas Oratorio

It's Xmas time! In this episode, we take you through some festive music with Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio.

Michael Maul, man holding up book that reads, Bach

Michael Maul, man holding up book that reads, Bach

Bach's 'inexhaustible cosmos'

Johann Sebastian Bach's music is revered around the world. A new biography reveals the man behind the musician.

Peng Shuai

Peng Shuai

China says concern around tennis star Peng Shuai 'hyped up'

The Chinese player was not seen for weeks after she accused a senior Communist Party official of sexual assault.

Olympic flag flutters at the Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo

Olympic flag flutters at the Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo

Tokyo 2020: IOC adds 'Together' to official Olympics motto

The IOC president has put forward a hopeful message with a revised Olympic motto that includes the word "together."

Jesus, the "Messiah", nailed to the cross - detail from a painting by Michael Triegel (2001).

Jesus, the "Messiah", nailed to the cross - detail from a painting by Michael Triegel (2001).

'Salvation' at the Leipzig Bach Festival

Some overseas die-hard fans have spared no expense to experience the music live in Germany.

Thomas Bach speaks during a video conference about Tokyo Olympic Games

Thomas Bach speaks during a video conference about Tokyo Olympic Games

IOC's Thomas Bach pledges 'safe' Tokyo Olympics

Germany's Thomas Bach won his second and final term at the head of the International Olympic Committee.

The complete first edition of Bach's works piled around a Bach bust

The complete first edition of Bach's works piled around a Bach bust

Bach scores owned by Gustav Mahler

The Bach Archive in Leipzig has purchased a copy of the composer's collected works with annotations by Gustav Mahler.

German passport

German passport

Germany: Thieves steal hundreds of IDs

A heavy safe with hundreds of new ID cards and passports was stolen in east Germany, authorities have said.

bust of Johann Sebastian Bach

bust of Johann Sebastian Bach

Why Bach is still Germany's star composer

The most famous classical composer has inspired biographies and has many fans. But what was he like as a person?

Bach statue, leafy green limb

Bach statue, leafy green limb

Virtual Bach Marathon for the Bach Festival

Leipzig without its Bach Festival is hardly imaginable, even in times of coronavirus pandemic restrictions.

DW Euromaxx (Sendungslogo)

DW Euromaxx (Sendungslogo)

Euromaxx - Lifestyle in Europe

Music for the masses, corona-inspired street art, and how to make the perfect fries.

DW Euromaxx | Cameron Carpenter

DW Euromaxx | Cameron Carpenter

Concert on Tour – Organ Music for Everyone

Closed concert halls couldn’t stop Cameron Carpenter from playing his organ for the people.

Albrecht Mayer, der 1. Solooboisten der Berliner Philharmoniker

Albrecht Mayer, der 1. Solooboisten der Berliner Philharmoniker

DW House Concert with oboist Albrecht Mayer

Performing on YouTube in the new DW series "House Concerts," Albrecht Mayer aims to offer comfort and joy with works by

Coronavirus - Organist spielt vor Seniorenheimen

Coronavirus - Organist spielt vor Seniorenheimen

Window concert tour for Berlin

'All you need is Bach' was the motto of Cameron Carpenter's performances for elderly people in Berlin.

Eröffnung des Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin

Eröffnung des Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin

No heaven without hell

The internationally acclaimed Berlin Radio Choir has joined forces with American theater director and visual artist Robert Wilson for a production that marries Martin Luther’s writings and translations with the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Wilson’s image theater conjures both anxiety and hope in a timeless statement that places Luther among the great thinkers of history.

Japan Premierminister Shinzo Abe

Japan Premierminister Shinzo Abe

Olympics delay poses huge financial challenge

The organizers of the Games had no choice but to postpone but are left with an unprecedented financial challenge.

DW Sendung Euromaxx Iskandar Widjaja

DW Sendung Euromaxx Iskandar Widjaja

Iskandar Widjaja's unique style

The virtuoso violinist Iskandar Widjaja won’t be pigeonholed. He’ll play whatever he likes.

FIFA Frauenfußball WM 2019 Finale USA - Niederlande

FIFA Frauenfußball WM 2019 Finale USA - Niederlande

Megan Rapinoe blasts IOC over new protest policy

US football star Megan Rapinoe has hit back at a new protest policy introduced for the Tokyo Olympics.

St Thomas Church in Leipzig

St Thomas Church in Leipzig

Windows smashed at renowned Bach church

Police are investigating after 25 panes of glass were smashed at a world-famous church in Leipzig.

Kölner Philharmonie Romboy Orchestra

Kölner Philharmonie Romboy Orchestra

DJ Marc Romboy gives Baroque composer electronic update

Bach is techno: DJ Marc Romboy takes classical masterpieces and gives them a 21st century, electronic music face-lift.

Kölner Philharmonie Marc Romboy

Kölner Philharmonie Marc Romboy

Techno meets Bach

Techno meets Bach - DJ Marc Romboy turns to an old master.

USA Film Filmregisseur Alfred Hitchcock

USA Film Filmregisseur Alfred Hitchcock

'Like Bach in music': Hitchcock's influence

The British director was born 120 years ago, and Alfred Hitchcock's films have hardly aged. We found out why.

Unveiling of the famous portrait of Johann Sebastian Bach in Leipzig.

Unveiling of the famous portrait of Johann Sebastian Bach in Leipzig.

The world of Bach in images

From Leipzig to Lübeck and from God to Google: Along with great music, the composer left us with diverse visual motifs.

A statue of Bacg in front of a building

A statue of Bacg in front of a building

Satisfying the craving for Bach

Bach is a booming business, and the Bachfest Leipzig plans to showcase dozens of choirs from all over the world in 2020.