December 9-16, 2004

musicpicks

Bach Festival

classical

Most famous music in the world? Beethoven's Fifth, maybe. Perhaps something from Dylan or the Beatles. And on the shortest of lists, without a doubt, Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, for organ. You've heard it a million times, but there is nothing like the gut-wrenching impact of hearing this great lava flow of notes live on a major pipe instrument. The Bach Festival of Philadelphia welcomes the holiday music season with a recital of Bach and Liszt works, opening with that ubiquitous, but deathless, number. The program will also include Liszt's mighty homage to the genius Kantor of Leipzig, Prelude and Fugue on Bach. The soloist will be Martin Haselböck, the highly acclaimed former court organist of Vienna, who will perform on the Mander organ of the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill. This instrument, which was installed in 2000, is significant because it is something of an anachronism, using mechanical, nondigital construction, with a sound that is ideal for this repertoire. The newly invigorated Bach Festival of Philadelphia, now under the directorship of veteran Philadelphia-based conductor Jonathan Sternberg, returns in the spring season with a robust schedule of music. Stay tuned.

Martin Haselb°ck, Sat., Dec. 11, 6 p.m., $25, Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, 8855 Germantown Ave., 215-247-BACH.

—Peter Burwasser