Central Florida’s longest-running arts organization is celebrating 90 years. Its newest season is meant to make Bach and other composers relevant to all generations.
In our latest On the Town report, here are 5 things to know about the upcoming Bach Festival Society’s newest season
1. The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park (BFS) announces its 90th season, featuring its “world-renowned choir, masterful orchestra and professional soloists,” led by nationally recognized Artistic Director and Conductor John V. Sinclair, in his 35th year with BFS.
2. The Bach Festival Society’s concerts, though, are only 5% Bach. They feature known and lesser-known composers to resonate with today’s younger generations.
John advises us to think of composers like food groups. “There’s a lot of what we listen to on the radio [that’s the] Twinkies of music. It doesn’t have any nutritional value… And then you have protein. Bach is protein.”
3. Among the many concerts coming up this new season is happening on Sunday, Nov. 3. It’s called “Songs of War and Peace," and you can experience Mozart’s Requiem at the Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando. Tickets start at $30.
4. Fun fact: The back of John’s head might look familiar to you if you’ve been to the Epcot Candlelight Processional, as he has conducted a whopping 1,000+ shows there.
5. The BFS’ 90th season includes nearly 30 performances that serve as a tribute to its rich history while embracing the future of music. The centerpiece of the season is the annual Bach Festival in February 2025, featuring Handel’s dynamic "La resurrezione," performances by the illustrious King’s Singers, and the debut of the First Annual Bach Festival Society American National Oratorio Competition.