Bach timeless
Founded in 1946, Schaffhausen's International Bach Festival continues to inspire and unite generations of music lovers from all over the world. Following the ideal of bridging gaps and overcoming boundaries under the umbrella of Johann Sebastian Bach's immortal music, today's Bach festivals are diverse and accessible celebrations of music and the performing arts in the Baroque tradition. Join uns in Schaffhausen for the 31st edition of our festival from May 13 to 17, as we celebrate «Bach timeless»!
- The Children's Festival
- WED 13. May
«Krach mit Bach» School Performances
Ein Musiktheaterstück für Kinder von Jörg Schade und Franz-Georg Stähling
mit Musik von G. F. Händel und J. S. Bach in Bearbeitungen von A. N. Tarkmann
MITTWOCH, 13. MAI 2026 (SCHULVORSTELLUNGEN)
09.00 & 10.30 UHR THEATER BACHTURNHALLE
Die beiden berühmten Komponisten Bach und Händel hängen viel herum: Seit ewigen Zeiten fristen sie ihr Dasein in den Bilderrahmen des Musikzimmers im kleinen Schlossmuseum. Doch allabendlich um Mitternacht steigen sie heraus, und dann entbrennt zwischen ihnen ein grosser Streit: Wer von ihnen war der bessere Komponist? Dabei erklingt wunderschöne Musik der beiden Komponisten, bearbeitet für ein Trio mit Harfe, Flöte, Fagott, und es wird auch gesungen – überraschend und virtuos von einer Museumsführerin sowie am Ende auch gemeinsam.
Carl-Herbert Braun Georg Friedrich Händel
Jörg Schade Johann Sebastian Bach
Meike Leluschko Sopran
Bernhard Wesenick Fagott
Ralph Töpsch Flöte
Babett Niclas Harfe
Preise CHF 20.– / 10.–
(Erwachsene / Kinder)
Schulklassen Der Vorstellungsbesuch für Schulklassen aus dem Kanton Schaffhausen ist kostenlos.
Anmeldung unter bachfesttickets@stsh.ch
- Cantata Services
- WED 13. May
Cantata Service
St. Maria Schaffhausen
«FREUE DICH, ERLÖSTE SCHAR» BWV 30
WEDNESDAY MAY 13, 2026
17.00 ST. MARIA SCHAFFHAUSEN
CHORPROJEKT SCHAFFHAUSEN
SCHAFFHAUSER BAROCKENSEMBLE
Christoph Honegger direction
Alma Pfister soprano
Bård Elias Frøsland Nystøyl counter
Roger Casanova Colomé bass
Church Service: Pfr. Pius Troxler
- Concerts
- WED 13. May
No. 1:
Opening Concert
SOLOMON’S KNOT
«HÖCHSTERWÜNSCHTES FREUDENFEST»
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
● Cantata «Höchsterwünschtes Freudenfest» BWV 194
● Cantata «Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen» BWV 43
● Cantata «Es erhub sich ein Streit» BWV 19
St. Johann Schaffhausen
7.30 pm
Introduction
18.45 Uhr, Munot Saal, Hotel Kronenhof
Price CHF 120.– / 80.– / 50.– / 30.–
Duration approx. 120 minutes, incl. intermission
Are you planning to attend several concerts? To receive a discount, oder your tickets via Abos & Tickets and submit the order form.
- Cantata Services
- THU 14. May
Cantata Service
St. Johann
«LOBET GOTT IN SEINEN REICHEN» BWV 11
THURSDAY MAY 14, 2026
09.30 ST. JOHANN SCHAFFHAUSEN
SALTO CORALE
SCHAFFHAUSER BAROCKENSEMBLE
Ulrich Waldvogel Herzig direction
Alma Pfister soprano
Bård Elias Frøsland Nystøyl counter
Flurin Herzig tenor
Roger Casanova Colomé bass
Church Service: Pfrn. Ute Nürnberg
- The Children's Festival
«Chaos im Orchester»
Mit den BachKids
MUSIKTHEATERWOCHE FÜR PRIMARSCHULKINDER
DONNERSTAG, 14. MAI BIS SONNTAG, 17. MAI 2026
10.00 BIS 16.00 UHR MUSIKSCHULE SCHAFFHAUSEN
& THEATER BACHTURNHALLE
Das Klavier hat nicht mehr alle Tasten im Schrank, die Querflöte hält nur ungern die Klappe und die Violine möchte immer die erste Geige spielen – da ist Chaos vorprogrammiert…
«Chaos Im Orchester» – Während der viertägigen Musiktheaterwoche wird gesungen, getanzt, musiziert und gespielt. Mit Fantasie und Freude verfolgen alle das Ziel, ein gemeinsames Finale auf die Bühne zu bringen: Zum Abschluss des Projekts stehen die Kinder beim öffentlichen Erlebniskonzert «Sonarelli» mit den Profis auf der Bühne und geben ein Konzert.
Leitung Selina Gerber, Eliane Michno und Doris Wildberger
Betreuung durchgehend von 10 bis 16 Uhr
Preis CHF 200.– (inkl. Mittagessen)
Anmeldung selina.gerber @ stsh.ch
Musikschule Schaffhausen
Theater Bachturnhalle
- The Children's Festival
- THU 14. May
Kids' Concert
«Krach mit Bach»
Music theatre for children by Jörg Schade and Franz-Georg Stähling (in German)
featuring music by G. F. Handel und J. S. Bach, adapted by A. N. Tarkmann
THURSADY MAY 14, 2026
11:00 THEATER BACHTURNHALLE
The famous composers Bach and Handel spend a lot of time hanging around - in the picture frames of the music room in the small castle museum. But at midnight they climb out of their frames and can'ts stop arguing about which of them was the better composer. The beautiful music of the two composers is played, arranged for a trio with harp, flute and bassoon, and there is also singing – surprisingly and virtuosically by a museum guide and, at the end, together.
Carl-Herbert Braun Georg Friedrich Händel
Jörg Schade Johann Sebastian Bach
Meike Leluschko soprano
Bernhard Wesenick bassoon
Ralph Töpsch flute
Babett Niclas harp
Preise CHF 20.– / 10.–
(Erwachsene / Kinder)
- Concerts
- THU 14. May
No. 2:
«Bach Four Pianos»
GERSHWIN PIANO QUARTET
MISCHA CHEUNG, ANDRÉ DESPONDS, BENJAMIN ENGELI, STEFAN WIRTH
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
● «Jauchzet, frohlocket» from the Weihnachtsoratorium BWV 248/1 (arr. Benjamin Engeli)
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (1710–1784)
● Polonaise Nr. 6 es-Moll F.12
Johann Sebastian Bach
● Konzert für vier Klaviere a-Moll BWV 1065 (arr. André Desponds)
● «He hath filled the Hungry» nach dem Magnificat BWV 243/9 (arr. Rebecca Clarke)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
● Con brio – Symphony Nr. 5 In black & white (arr. Benjamin Engeli)
Stefan Wirth (*1975)
● Tango-Fuga on a theme by Astor Piazzolla
Sergej Prokofjew (1891–1953)
● Drei Stücke aus „Leutnant Kishé“ (arr. Mischa Cheung)
George Gershwin (1898–1937)
● «I Got Rhythm» (arr. Earl Wild)
● «Oh Lady be Good» (improvisation André Desponds)
George Gershwin
● Two movements from the concerto in F-Dur (arr. André Desponds)
Stadttheater Schaffhausen
11:30 am
prices CHF 50.– / 40.– / 30.– / 20.–
duration approx. 90 minutes, incl. interval
Are you planning to attend several concerts? To receive a discount, oder your tickets via Abos & Tickets and submit the order form.
- Extras
- THU 14. May
«Museum Highlights»
GUIDED TOUR OF THE MUSEUM ZU ALLERHEILIGEN
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2026
14:30 MUSEUM ZU ALLERHEILIGEN
Steeped in history and yet relevant to our present, the Museum zu Allerheiligen combines archaeology, history, art and nature under one roof. During the special guided tour
as part of the Bach Festival, you can discover the most significant treasures in the collection. (Tour in German)
guide Karola Lüthi
price CHF 12.– (free of charge for children and concert ticket hoiders)
- Concerts
- THU 14. May
No. 3:
«In Your Hands»
B’ROCK ORCHESTRA TALL TALES COMPANY
Swantje Kawecki, David Mupanda, Charles Hession, Harm van der Laan acrobatics
Kalle Kalima electric guitar & composition
Cecilia Bernardini violin & directionund Leitung
Bobbie Blommenstein soprano
Rosina Fabius alto
Thomas Köll / Fabian Kelly tenor
Hans Wijers bass
Rebecca Huber violin
Manuela Bucher viola
Patrick Sepec vello
Tami Krausz / Kate Clark flute
Petteri Pitko synthesizer
Andreas Küppers choir direction
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
● Johannespassion BWV 245 (arr. Kalle Kalima)
Gaswerkareal Schaffhausen
16:00 & 19:00
price CHF 50.–
duration approx. 90 minutes, no interval
Are you planning to attend several concerts? To receive a discount, oder your tickets via Abos & Tickets and submit the order form.
- Extras
- THU 14. May
Bach on Screen: «Living Bach»
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2026
17:00 KIWI SCALA SCHAFFHAUSEN
There are over 300 Bach choirs and ensembles worldwide, in which singers, music lovers and amateur musicians from a wide variety of cultures, religions and social classes
sing. Whether they come from Japan, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Paraguay, the USA or Switzerland, they all share one great passion: Johann Sebastian Bach and his work. Their lives are inextricably linked to the music of the world-famous German composer.
LIVING BACH tracks down these enthusiasts, travels around the globe, reveals extraordinary, exciting and life-changing relationships with Bach's incomparable art and accompanies them on their way to the world's largest gathering of the Bach family – the Leipzig Bach Festival.
Preis CHF 10.– (free of charge for concert ticket holders)
- Concerts
- THU 14. May
No. 4:
«Bach Interminata»
MUSICA SEQUENZA
BURAK ÖZDEMIR, BASSOON AND DIRECTION
Elif Canfeza Gündüz Kamancheh
Chang Yun Yoo baroque viola
Tabea Schrenk baroque cello
Sebastian Flaig percussion
Pedro Alcacer baroque guitar
Charlie Zhang baroque guitar
«BACH INTERMINATA»
Music by
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Antonio Martín y Coll (um 1660)
Stefano Landi (1587–1639)
Tanburi Mustafa Çavuş (1700–1770)
with folks songs from Bosnia, Greece, Palestine, Syria, Israel, Egypt and Morocco
Theater Bachturnhalle
20:30
price CHF 40.–
duration approx. 90 minutes, incl. interval
Are you planning to attend several concerts? To receive a discount, oder your tickets via Abos & Tickets and submit the order form.
- Cantata Services
- FRI 15. May
Cantata Service
Gaswerkareal
«LOBE DEN HERRN, MEINE SEELE» BWV 69A
FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2026
09.30 GASWERKAREAL SCHAFFHAUSEN
KAMMERCHOR ZÜRCHER UNTERLAND
SCHAFFHAUSER BAROCKENSEMBLE
Philipp Klahm direction
Lena Kiepenheuer soprano
Ingrid Alexandre alto
Nino Aurelio Gmünder tenor
Tobias Wicky bass
Church Service: Pfrn. Miriam Gehrke, Pfr. Wolfram Kötter
- Concerts
- FRI 15. May
No. 5:
«Organists of St. Thomas»
JOHANNES LANG ORGAN
Works by
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Elias Nikolaus Ammerbach (um 1530–1597)
Vincenzo Albrici (1631–1687)
Johann Kuhnau (1660–1722)
Johann Gottlieb Görner (1697–1778)
August Eberhard Müller (1767–1817)
Friedrich Schneider (1786–1853)
Wilhelm Rust (1822–1892)
Carl Piutti (1846–1902)
Günther Ramin (1898–1956)
Münster Schaffhausen
11:30
price CHF 40.–
duration ca. 90 Minuten, keine Pause
Are you planning to attend several concerts? To receive a discount, oder your tickets via Abos & Tickets and submit the order form.
- Extras
- FRI 15. May
Bach on Screen: «Living Bach»
FROIDAY MAY 15, 2026
17.00 KIWI SCALA SCHAFFHAUSEN
There are over 300 Bach choirs and ensembles worldwide, in which singers, music lovers and amateur musicians from a wide variety of cultures, religions and social classes
sing. Whether they come from Japan, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Paraguay, the USA or Switzerland, they all share one great passion: Johann Sebastian Bach and his work. Their lives are inextricably linked to the music of the world-famous German composer.
LIVING BACH tracks down these enthusiasts, travels around the globe, reveals extraordinary, exciting and life-changing relationships with Bach's incomparable art and accompanies them on their way to the world's largest gathering of the Bach family – the Leipzig Bach Festival.
Preis CHF 10.– (free of charge for concert ticket holders)
- Concerts
- FRI 15. May
No. 6:
«St. Matthew Passion»
LA CETRA BAROCKORCHESTER & VOKALENSEMBLE BASEL ANDREA MARCON, DIRECTION
Raphael Höhn Evangelist
Raoul Steffani Jesus
Miriam Feuersinger soprano
Carlos Mena counter
Emiliano Gonzalez Toro tenor
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
● St. Matthew Passion BWV 244
St. Johann Schaffhausen
17:00
Introduction (in German)
16:15, Munot Saal, Hotel Kronenhof
price CHF 90.– / 70.– / 40.– / 25.–
duration approx. 180 minutes, incl. interval
Are you planning to attend several concerts? To receive a discount, oder your tickets via Abos & Tickets and submit the order form.
- Concerts
- FRI 15. May
No. 7:
Rondeau I: «UNDR»
JEAN RONDEAU & TANCRÈDE KUMMER
«UNDR»
A MUSICAL CREATION INSPIRED BY BACH'S «GOLDBERG VARIATIONS»
Jean Rondeau piano, composition
Tancrède Kummer percussion, composition
Silouane Colmet Daâge sound design
Kulturzentrum Kammgarn
20:30
price CHF 50.–
duration approx. 90 minutes, no interval
Are you planning to attend several concerts? To receive a discount, oder your tickets via Abos & Tickets and submit the order form.
- Cantata Services
- SAT 16. May
Cantata Service
Stein am Rhein
«LIEBSTER JESU, MEIN VERLANGEN» BWV 32
SATURDAY MAY 16, 2026
09.30 STADTKIRCHE STEIN AM RHEIN
STEINER KANTOREI
STEINER KAMMERENSEMBLE
Roland Müller direction
Mirjam Wernli soprano
Tobias Wicky bass
Church Service: Pfrn. Dagmar Bertram
- Extras
- SAT 16. May
Open Singing
«Sing with Bach»
OPEN SINGINIG
SATURDAY MAY 16, 2026
11.00 STADTKIRCHE ST. JOHANN
KONZERTCHOR SCHAFFHAUSEN &
NEUHAUSER KANTOREI
Guido Helbling direction
Andreas Jud organ
price free of charge
- Concerts
- SAT 16. May
No. 8:
Rondeau II: «Goldberg»
JEAN RONDEAU HARPSICHORD
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
● Goldberg Variations BWV 988
Stadtkirche Diessenhofen
11:00
price CHF 50.– / 30.–
duration approx. 110 minutes, no interval
Are you planning to attend several concerts? To receive a discount, oder your tickets via Abos & Tickets and submit the order form.
Boat trip to Diessenhofen
- Concerts
- Extras
- SAT 16. May
Music at the Stube:
«Stories»
PROSPERO CONSORT
Leonie Flaksman violin
Daria Spiridonova violin
Dominik Klauser viola
Gian-Andri Cuonz cello
Lukas Stamm harpsichord
KOONI live animations
Morris Weckherlin recitation
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681–1767)
● «Ouverture burlesque» – Suite TWV 55:B8
● «Gullivers Reisen» – Intrada-Suite for 2 violins TWV 40:108
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
● Capriccio sopra la lontananza del fratello diletissimo B-Dur
für Cembalo solo BWV 992
● Suiite No. 3 D major BWV 1068
Kulturhaus Obere Stube Stein am Rhein
11:00 to 18:00
Preise free of charge
- Extras
- SAT 16. May
«time travel to the 19th century»
GUIDED TOUR OF MUSEUM LINDWURM
SATURDAY MAY 16, 2026
14:30 MUSEUM LINDWURM
In Stein am Rhein's Lindwurm Museum, time seems to have stood still. In the historic setting covering around 1,500 m², the 19th century comes to life, blending early bourgeois experience with the history of agricultural life.
concept & guide Violette Tanner
price free of charge
- Concerts
- SAT 16. May
No. 9:
«Jauchzet!»
LES PASSIONS DE L’ÂME
Meret Lüthi violin and direction
Hana Blažíková soprano
Dominic Wunderli trumpet
Benoît Laurent oboe
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681–1767)
● concerto D major for violin, trumpet, strings and basso continuo TWV 53:D5
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
● cantata «Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten» BWV 202
Johann Sebastian Bach
● concerto c minor for violie, oboe, strings and basso continuo BWV 1060R
● concerto E major for violin, strings and basso continuo BWV 1042
● cantata «Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen» BWV 51
Stadtkirche Stein am Rhein
17:00
price CHF 90.– / 60.–
duration approx. 120 minutes, incl. interval
Are you planning to attend several concerts? To receive a discount, oder your tickets via Abos & Tickets and submit the order form.
Bus & boat trip to Stein am Rhein (snack incuded)
- Extras
- SAT 16. May
Bach on Screen: «Living Bach»
SATURDAY MAY 16, 2026
20.00 KIWI SCALA SCHAFFHAUSEN
There are over 300 Bach choirs and ensembles worldwide, in which singers, music lovers and amateur musicians from a wide variety of cultures, religions and social classes
sing. Whether they come from Japan, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Paraguay, the USA or Switzerland, they all share one great passion: Johann Sebastian Bach and his work. Their lives are inextricably linked to the music of the world-famous German composer.
LIVING BACH tracks down these enthusiasts, travels around the globe, reveals extraordinary, exciting and life-changing relationships with Bach's incomparable art and accompanies them on their way to the world's largest gathering of the Bach family – the Leipzig Bach Festival.
price CHF 10.– (free of charge for concert ticket holders)
- Concerts
- SAT 16. May
No. 10:
«Euro-Baroque Song Contest»
LAUTTEN COMPAGNEY BERLIN
Wolfgang Katschner musical direction
soloists newcomers und rising stars of the scene
Stadttheater Schaffhausen
20:00
price CHF 60.– / 50.– / 40.– / 25.–
duration approx. 150 minutes, incl. interval
Are you planning to attend several concerts? To receive a discount, oder your tickets via Abos & Tickets and submit the order form.
- Cantata Services
- SUN 17. May
Cantata Servcie
Münster Schaffhausen
«HERR CHRIST, DER EINGE GOTTESSOHN» BWV 96
SUNDAY MAY 17, 2026
09:30 MÜNSTER SCHAFFHAUSEN
SCHAFFHAUSER ORATORIENCHOR
SCHAFFHAUSER BAROCKENSEMBLE
Kurt Müller Klusman direction
Lena Kiepenheuer soprano
Ingrid Alexandre alto
Nino Aurelio Gmünder tenor
Tobias Wicky bass
Church Service: Pfr. Roland Diethelm
- Concerts
- SUN 17. May
No. 11:
Rondeau III: «Quartet»
NEVERMIND
Anna Besson traverso
Louis Creac’h violin
Robin Pharo viola da gamba
Jean Rondeau harpsichord, chamber organ
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
● Goldberg Veriations BWV 988, arranged for violin, traverso, viola da gamba, harpsichord and chamber organ by Nevermind (Anna Besson, Louis Creac’h, Robin Pharo, Jean Rondeau)
Rathhauslaube Schaffhausen
11:30
price CHF 50.–
duration appoirx. 90 minutes, no interval
Are you planning to attend several concerts? To receive a discount, oder your tickets via Abos & Tickets and submit the order form..
- The Children's Festival
- SUN 17. May
Kid's Concert
«Sonarelli»
SUNDAY MAY 17, 2026
14:00 & 15:30 THEATER BACHTURNHALLE
The Sonarelli Family Concert introduces pre-school and primary school children to the world of music and sound in an imaginative way. Kids are invited to join an exciting journey of discovery full of musical treasures. In addition to listening, the children are actively involved in the concert for around 40 minutes and are allowed to crawl, dance, sing and play along to their heart's content. A special highlight: the ensemble is supported by the BachKids from the Music Theatre Week – together they will bring order back to the ‘chaos in the orchestra’.
direction Eliane Michno, Doris Wildberger
price CHF 10.– / 5.– (Erwachsene/Kinder)
- Extras
- SUN 17. May
«Schaffhausen in Bach's time»
A GUIDED TOUR THROUGH THE CITY OF SCHAFFHAUSER (ENGLISH VERSION ON DEMAND)
FRODAY, MAY 15 & SUNDAY MAY 17, 2026
14.30 FESTIVALZENTRUM AM KIRCHHOFPLATZ
What was life like in Schaffhausen during Johann Sebastian Bach's lifetime? Which people and stories shaped the city? And what connections to Bach's life can be found here? Chronicler Laurenz von Waldkirch guides us through Schaffhausen's eventful Baroque period.
guide Martin Harzenmoser
price CHF 15.– (free of charge for children and concert ticket holders. To book contact bachfesttickets@stsh.ch).
- Concerts
- SUN 17. May
No. 12:
Final Concert
FREIBURGER BAROCKORCHESTER VOX LUMINIS
LIONEL MEUNIER DIRECTION
Kristen Witmer soprano I
Sophia Faltas soprano II
Victoria Cassano alto
William Shelton counter
Jonathan Hanley tenor
Vojtěch Semerád tenor
Sebastian Myrus bass I
Felix Schwandtke bass II
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
● Mass in B minor BWV 232
St. Johann Schaffhausen
17:00
Introduction 16.15 Uhr, Munot Saal, Hotel Kronenhof
price CHF 120.– / 80.– / 50.– / 30.–
duration approx. 120 minutes, no interval
Are you planning to attend several concerts? To receive a discount, oder your tickets via Abos & Tickets and submit the order form.
Looking back: The 2024 Bach Festival
The 2024 edition of our festival «bach inspires» was packed with emotion and delivered lasting memories. In a total of 21 events (concerts, cantata services, workshops, guided tours, outreach programmes, and more).