Festival Wraps and Rolls on to '04

For immediate release. Contact: George Evano, 541-346-5667 or Scott Barkhurst, 541-346-1163

The Oregon Bach Festival concluded a successful 34th season with strong ticket sales, high caliber performances, and the promise of more to come.

Going into Sunday's final concert, the University of Oregon's Bach celebration again affirmed its place as the nation's leading event of its kind. The Festival had cleared $400,000 in ticket sales for the third time in four years, with audiences coming from 33 states, Europe, Asia, and across Canada. The Festival was nearing 95% of its ticket sales goal, and had exceeded its previous year's concert sponsorship dollars by seven percent, figures that pleased executive director Royce Saltzman. "In the current economic climate, we feel very fortunate to have this level of success both in sales and sponsorship," Saltzman said. "I think that says a great deal about the level of artistry on stage and the strength of support from both within and outside of our community."

This year's Festival was backed by corporate or in-kind support from more than 130 businesses and grantors, both local and global.

Artistically, conductor Helmuth Rilling led a series that had noteworthy peaks from individuals and ensembles. "We had a great Festival," the conductor reflected. "We heard a little-known work from Handel (Jephtha), Jeffrey Kahane, with his wonderful playing of the Beethoven concertos, outstanding soloists, new ways of experiencing Bach's music with dance, and of course, much in the way of education."

Onstage, performers came from across the U.S., Germany, and England. The Youth Choral Academy program attracted 77 high school singers from seven states, and a vocal studies program featured 23 students from South Korea. Rilling's conducting master class served 40 students from 16 states, Korea, and Israel.

Saltzman announced a preliminary schedule for 2004 that includes the masterworks Elijah by Mendelssohn, and the St. Matthew Passion and Mass in B Minor by Bach. Pianists Jeffrey Kahane and Robert Levin and baritone soloist Thomas Quasthoff are scheduled, and Rilling will return as artistic director. 2004 Oregon Bach Festival dates are June 25-July 11.