On April 22, 1723, the Leipzig City Council unanimously elected Johann Sebastian Bach as the new St. Thomas Cantor. Exactly 300 years later, we would like to celebrate this significant anniversary in the spirit of Bach: with a performance of the magnificent council election cantata that Bach composed in August 1723 as a hymn of praise to Leipzig and on the occasion of the blessing of the new city council for the so-called council election service: “Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn“ BWV 119.

In this context, we would like to invite you to a ceremonial service in the Nikolaikirche Leipzig (Leipzig’s old council church). As in his day, the Thomanerchor and the municipal orchestra/Gewandhaus Orchestra will perform under the direction of the St. Thomas Cantor. The welcome address by the Mayor of Leipzig will be followed by a message from the Superintendent, which will take the solemn occasion of Bach’s appointment and the above-mentioned council election cantata as its starting point.

Following the musical devotion, the focus will be on the original setting of the council meeting at that time: the Old Town Hall of the City of Leipzig. Here, the Bachfest director will give an address outlining the path of Bach, then court kapellmeister, to the Thomaskantorat.

In addition, the museum director will present the museum activities of the anniversary year. There will also be a short preview of the Bach Parcours, which presents unique objects ranging from the Oath Bible of the Leipzig Council to the pulpit of the cemetery church of St. Johannis and the performance gallery of the city musicians.

Afterwards we invite you to join us for a little get-together to toast this special anniversary for Leipzig as a city of music.