An outstanding musician has been awarded the Bach Medal by the city of Leipzig every year since 2003. In that year, Dutch Bach specialist Gustav Leonhardt was the first person who received the medal made from Meissen Porcelain. The famous harpsichordist and conductor was one of the leading pioneers in the movement to play music on historic instruments. Aged 83, he died on Monday last week following a serious illness. In his honor, the management of Bachfest Leipzig and the Dutch conductor Ton Koopman, a protégé of Gustav Leonhardt, have decided to dedicate the concert taking place on 9 June 2012 at 8 pm in St. Nicholas Church Leipzig to the memory of this important musician and educator. Koopman will perform three of Bach’s Cantatas (BWV 51, 199 and 202) as well as Orchestral Suite no. 1 in C Major (BWV 1066)  together with the soprano Dorothee Mields and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra.

- Bach-Archive Leipzig