The Leipzig Bach Festival pays tribute to the composer through a hit parade. More than 8,000 enthusiasts from 20 nations participated in the voting. Yet Bach is also honored in numerous other countries across the globe.
Within Johann Sebastian Bach’s body of work, there are magnificent cantatas featuring timpani and trumpets, alongside more poignant compositions that stir the emotions. To determine which cantatas are most cherished by the global Bach community, the Leipzig Bach Festival carried out an extensive survey. The top 50 selections from this "Bach hit parade" will be presented by renowned ensembles at this year’s Bach Festival, scheduled from June 11 to 21.
The Bach top 50 hit parade
Over 8,000 Bach admirers from 20 countries cast their votes for their preferred works among Johann Sebastian Bach’s liturgical cantatas. Similar to the Eurovision Song Contest, they could assign points: 12 points for their top pick, 10 for the second, and so forth. However, the final ranking will remain undisclosed until each concert takes place.
Artistic director Michael Maul revealed only this: "I was taken aback that it wasn’t necessarily the most spectacular, loudest, or major-key cantatas that secured spots in the top 10, but rather the pieces that strike a very soft and reflective tone, where the lyrics address existential themes."
Maul believes this also sheds light on why Bach continues to hold significance for people today.
Nevertheless, he did note that well-known cantatas like "Lobet den Herrn" (Praise the Lord) or "Nun kommt der Heiden Heiland" (Savior of the nations, come) definitely occupy positions among the top 50.
The New Bach Society as a model
Johann Sebastian Bach served as the Thomaskantor in Leipzig from 1723 until his death in 1750 and, among other duties, led the renowned St. Thomas Choir, which inaugurates the Bach Festival annually.
Leipzig is also the home of the New Bach Society, whose mission includes preserving and advancing the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.
With this in mind, the idea first emerged in 1901 to organize regular Bach festivals in various cities across Germany, with a primary focus on his liturgical music. Several of these cities subsequently started arranging their own Bach festivals.
The concept of holding regular Bach festivals featuring a diverse array of concerts was also embraced internationally.
However, since the festivals could not always take place on a consistent schedule—due to factors like wars—the New Bach Society is celebrating its 100th Bach Festival this year, which is part of the Leipzig Bach Festival.
How Bach festivals have spread worldwide
To mark this occasion, museum director Jörg Hansen has curated the exhibition "Bach Festivals: A Phenomenon" at the Bachhaus in Eisenach, the city where Bach was born in 1685. Hansen and his team identified 82 Bach festivals around the world that occur regularly or have taken place over an extended period.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, has hosted the most Bach festivals to date, according to Hansen: "Since 1912, they have organized 118 Bach festivals."
The youngest Bach festival was established 10 years ago in Jerusalem, Israel, and the largest Bach festivals outside Germany take place in Malaysia and the US state of Oregon.
The exhibition at the Bachhaus features historical items such as programs, photos, autographs, films, and audio recordings. "We also have a display case filled with souvenirs and program booklets, along with the latest Bach Festival posters from 58 Bach Festival events worldwide," says Hansen.
Who owns Bach?
But the exhibition also serves as a history lesson, including how Bach’s music was misused by the Nazis during the Third Reich.
Then there was the conflict after World War II, when the two halves of a divided Germany each attempted to claim Johann Sebastian Bach for themselves. "In communist East Germany, Bach was viewed as a comrade of the workers and peasants who rebelled against the authorities and the church," Hansen explains.
In reality, Bach did have a dispute with his employer, the church, but it was over his salary and the selection of boys for the St. Thomas Choir.
In contrast, during West Germany’s post-war economic boom, Bach was seen as a commercial product, and stars and international ensembles were brought in for the Bach festivals.
Nevertheless, the New Bach Society was permitted to hold its festivals annually, alternating between East and West. "However, church services were no longer allowed in the official program of the Bach festivals," explains Jörg Hansen.
At the 2026 Leipzig Bach Festival, Bach’s religious cantatas will be especially celebrated. Not only in the hit parade, but also this year under the direction of conductor and organist Rudolf Lutz with the "Family Choir." In total, 122 people from 20 countries are coming to Leipzig specifically to sing Bach’s cantatas.
This year’s artist-in-residence is the Iranian-American harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani, and Bach is his favorite composer. He is currently recording Bach’s complete harpsichord works for the Hyperion label and will perform selections from Bach’s secular repertoire in seven high-profile harpsichord concerts at the Leipzig Bach Festival. Deutsche Welle will record the concert "Piano Exercises on the Harpsichord I" on June 12. It will be available on the YouTube channel DW Classical Music.
The Leipzig Bach Festival, themed "In Dialogue," takes place from June 11 to June 21 in Leipzig. The exhibition "Bach Festivals: A Phenomenon" runs through November 1, 2026, at the Bachhaus in Eisenach.
This article was originally written in German.