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Bachfest Leipzig 2026

June 11 - 22, 2026

Trip Status:  OPEN!!

Tour Cost: $6995, Single Supplement $1000
 
Activity Level: easy – an ability to sit for four hours!
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THE HIT PARADE:
THE TOP 50 BACH CANTATAS

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If you are captivated by Bach cantatas, Bachfest 2026 is for you!

In 2024 during Bachfest, participants were given the chance to rate their top 20 cantatas.  Bachfest 2026 will present the top 50 Bach cantatas, democratically chosen by “we, the people” -avid Bachians.

​At this time, nobody but Michael Maul (Artistic Director of Bachfest) and his private circle have any inkling of the top chosen cantatas, but I’m sure there might be some well-educated guesses.    In a series of 12 concerts, held at the Thomas and Nikolai Kirchen, the great reveal will take place.  The pinnacle of the 50 will be heard on 17 June, when the top 8 through 1 will be played, with Ton Koopman conducting the concert at Sankt Thomas and Sir John Eliot Gardiner conducting at Sankt Nikolai. 

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We will attend about 15 concerts/performances during the 10-day festival.   These include the Top 50 Bach Cantatas and Andras Schiff playing the Clavier – Uebung and the Kunst der Fuge.  I’ll see if we have time for more, depending on how the rest of the festival program shapes up.

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My friend Miguel Rodé of The Cantata Trail will join us in Leipzig.  During most mornings, he will facilitate in-depth discussions about the cantatas (if we can get Michael Maul to divulge at least some of them to us; otherwise, Miguel will choose his favorites, which will probably have a fair degree of overlap with the Top 50).  If you’ve listened to any of his presentations on Armchair Journeys, you are aware of his expertise and great teaching skill.   (He also led wonderful discussions of the Weihnachtsoratorium while we were in the Netherlands in January.)  I invite you to join us in our musical home, Leipzig.​

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Leipzig is an easy town to get around.  It is flat – no hills to climb – and performances are usually scheduled so you don’t have to hurry (too much) from one to another.

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We will stay either at the centrally located Adina Apartments  or the Melia Innside for the duration.    Close by are most of the festival venues, restaurants and shops.  

We hope you’ll join us in Leipzig next June.  Please note that the dates at the top are the festival dates.  I expect to arrive on June 10 and depart June 22. Giving myself an extra day to acclimate helps relieve the ravages of jet lag immensely.

If time doesn't permit you to stay for the entire 12 days, we can customize the trip so you can attend either the first or second half. Please let us know. 
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Accommodations
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YOUR HOSTS

Hosts
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Miguel Rodé 
Discussion Facilitator

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Miguel Rodé was born and raised in Montevideo, Uruguay and moved to the US in 2002 as part of his career in Information Technology. He currently lives in Seattle, WA. A life-long music lover, over the years Miguel developed a special fascination with the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, and in particular with his cantatas and other vocal works.  In 2022 Miguel initiated a series of virtual meetings called "The Cantata Trail" with the intent of sharing this incredibly rich musical universe with some close friends. Miguel has also facilitated online and in-person workshops on the topic of Bach cantatas for Artful Journeys, the Whidbey Island Music Festival, and the Seattle Bach Festival.

As a musician, Miguel plays the baroque flute and is a member of several chamber ensembles in the Seattle area, for which he also enjoys transcribing and arranging music.

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Joan Hill
Owner, Host, & Director

In 2008, the seed of Artful Journeys was planted in her brain, when Joan brought together all of her life's passions, her love of music, an affinity for the beautiful things in life, and an ability to organize events to give birth to Artful Journeys, a program of art education trips for the soul. 

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Joan was born and raised in the apple country of the Hudson River Valley in New York; her father was a gentle, very tolerant, educated land surveyor, and her mother was the efficient business administrator and home engineer. The youngest of four children, Joan was encouraged to pursue anything she wanted, but also to do her best. Sometimes that was very difficult, especially succeeding three very accomplished siblings.

JOURNEY COST

Cost
The price of this trip is $6995. **​

  • Includes accommodations, most meals, tickets to the concerts with priority seating, entrance to a rehearsal, transportation within Germany, excursions and administration fees. 

  • There is a $1000 single supplement. 

  • Not included are personal purchases and pampering.

  • NOTE: A deposit of $500 is required upon registration to secure a place in this journey.

  • Airfare to and from Germany is not included to enable travelers to use their “travel points,” upgrade flight arrangements, or to extend their trip.

  • Travel insurance is strongly encouraged. Please see the Travel Insurance Form.

  • A full complement of Covid vaccinations is suggested to participate in an Artful Journeys trip.

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** Please note that everything seems more expensive these days.  The weak dollar doesn't help.

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To register for this journey, please click below:

Please note that PayPal remittances must go through the form on this website.  Thank you.

For details or questions, please click here to contact Joan Hill.
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