Journey to Weimar Visitor Guide 2020 // 2021 INTRODUCTION Weimar is famous for literature and the history. In addition, numerous music fine arts. Goethe and Schiller may be festivals like the Thuringia Bach Festival, the most well-known figures who made Bach Biennale Weimar, Jazzmeile Thurin- Weimar their home, but the city has also gia, Playground Festival of Renaissance reached worldwide renown through the and Baroque music, Weimar Organ musicians who also lived or worked here. Summer Festival, and Weimar Master Johann Nepomuk Hummel was a former Classes, to name a few, all play a role in student of Mozart’s. The premiere of maintaining Weimar’s reputation as a Richard Wagner’s Lohengrin took place city for music. The famous West-Eastern in Weimar. Clara Schumann gave some Divan Orchestra was founded in 1999 concerts in the city. Johann Sebastian by the conductor Daniel Barenboim and Bach and Franz Liszt each stayed for academic Edward Said, and is named about ten years, leaving a great impres- after an anthology of poems by Goethe. sion on the city’s music life and contribu- ted significantly to Weimar’s reputation In 2021, Weimar will feature six of its parks in the music world. All this was made and gardens during the Bundesgarten- possible through the prevailing culture of schau, or BUGA (Federal Garden Show) promoting the arts at hand at the time. in Erfurt. Weimar has remained a city of music up In this magazine, we invite you to get to to the present day thanks to institutions know more about some of the musical such as the FRANZ LISZT Music University facets of Weimar, explore its historical founded by Liszt himself, and the Staats- parks, and enjoy your very own experience kapelle Weimar with its over 400-year-old in Weimar! CONTENTS 2020 – A Year of Music 2 Passion for Bach from Thomas Dunford, France 5 Bach’s music will always remain modern – Christoph Prégardien, Germany 6 2021 – A Year of Parks & Gardens 8 Classical Weimar 12 Weimar Modernism 16 Political Weimar 20 Discover Markets 24 Enjoy Festivals 28 Thuringian Food & Drinks 32 Activities & Relaxation 34 TOP 10 in Weimar 36 Beyond Weimar 38 Getting Here 41 City Map 42 Weimar – Easily Accessible 43 Guided Tours for Groups 44 Group Hotels 48 Group Restaurants 49 Terms & Conditions 51 // Park an der Ilm © Matthias Eckert, weimar GmbH www.weimar.de 1 »Without music, life would be a mistake.« Friedrich Nietzsche »Where words fail, music speaks.« Hans Christian Andersen // Herder Church © Clemens Bauerfeind, weimar GmbH 2 INFO Bach-Experience Space Crumbling masonry, squeaking floorboards, corners with nooks and crannies – the Bastille is an impressive historic location. Visitors can dive into a comprehensive Bach-Expe- rience through a multi-media presentation room by room. Address: Burgplatz, 99423 Weimar Opening Hours: Tuesday until Sunday, 10 am–5 pm Bach Listening-Station Here at the former Bach family home (Markt 16), you can try your hand, or in this case // Bach-Experience Space © Thomas Müller, weimar GmbH your foot, at the pedal of the »organ«, where you can hear authentic works of Bach. TIP: Bach Biennale Weimar 2020 – A YEAR OF MUSIC The festival is held every two years in July in Weimar, giving Johann Sebastian Bach – A Genius in Weimar visitors access and exposure to Bach at the highest level. Renowned international artists eimar played an important role in Brandenburg Concerti, a sizeable portion of and ensembles play historical the life of Johann Sebastian Bach his organ works, and the Orgelbüchlein were baroque instruments, bringing as well in those of his children, Carl composed during this time. the music to life at authentic Philipp Emanuel and Wilhelm Friedemann. In the Autumn of 1717, he requested his Bach locations throughout In fact, J.S. Bach called Weimar his home release from service, in order to take over the Weimar. on two different occasions during his life. vacant position as Kapellmeister in the court In 1703, he worked here for half a year as a in Köthen. He had already received something ä www.bachbiennaleweimar.de violinist and lacquey in the private chapel of of a »signing bonus« and was receiving Duke Johann Ernst III. two salaries simultaneously as a result. In City Tour BACH – In 1708, he returned to serve for almost ten response, Duke Wilhelm Ernst had him jailed A BAROQUE GENIUS years as the court organist. The Bachs moved for almost four weeks in the Bastille. He was 2 h with advance booking into the house at Markt 16. It was here that finally released from service on December they had their first six children, among them 2nd in »denounced« disgrace. Contact: were Wilhelm Friedemann and Carl Philipp Tourist-Information, Markt 10, Emanuel. The Weimar years were creative ones: 99423 Weimar, +49(0)3643 7450 over 30 cantatas, early arrangements of the 3 THURINGIA BACH FESTIVAL he Thuringian Bach Festival is one of the important platforms for Baroque music in Germany. The festival attracts both artists and tourists alike from Germany and beyond with its specialization in the presentation of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach in authentic Bach-sites. // Thuringia Bach Festival in Weimar © Thuringia Bach Festival 4 PASSION FOR BACH Thomas Dunford, a lutist from France, will be an artist-in-residence of the 2020 Thuringia Bach Festival. He shares with us his passion for Bach music. » Johann Sebastian Bach did spend » Today especially the younger a couple of his most productive generation seems to be heavily years in Weimar. You will perform influenced by YouTube, Netflix, and in this very church where Bach had social media. How would you argue at least 3 of his sons baptized. Do that we’re still in need of live per- you expect to experience a special formances of classical music? What kind of »spirit« when you play in an difference does it make? historic Bach location? Or doesn’t it matter where you perform? TD: The digital world has taken us by storm, but we cannot reject our TD: It has significance for me to play nature and our will to share. While in this place where Bach created with the internet provides us with extra- such inspiration and to let his music ordinary possibilities, it can never be resonate in the very walls that first a substitute for the natural world and came into contact with his music three its complexity. A digital capture of the centuries ago. I hope that Bach’s spirit music such as CD, YouTube, etc… will will join in that very special place as only remain a pale reflection of the we play. real world, which has much greater complexity and depth. The moment // Thomas Dunford © MD Julien Benhamou » Bach’s music was composed three that we share with an audience during centuries ago. As an artist who a concert is something we can’t see or » As a musician, you are focused, of specializes in early music – why is record but clearly has a profound im- course, on many composers from this music still worth discovering? pact. For me music reaches its ultimate different periods. You seem to potential when performed in the »real« return, however, to Johann Sebas- TD: Bach wrote his music three world as we connect through music. tian Bach regularly. What is it that centuries ago, but to me it remains fascinates you about Bach’s music some of the most modern and extra- » Finally: Is it the first time you’ll come again and again? Is he more special ordinary music ever conceived. I ­believe to Weimar? Any plans yet as to what than other composers? his music will never age because of its you will discover? complexity, its humanity, and because TD: To me Bach is unique. He manages of its respect for the fundamental TD: It will be my first time and I am to synthesize and revolutionize the principles of nature. thrilled to be able to discover the city music of his time. To me he is one of where such beauty was created! the greatest musical geniuses that has ever lived. His music is an unlimited source of inspiration and humility; I would consider him to be the »god« of musicians and an extraordinary guide. 5 BACH’S MUSIC WILL ALWAYS REMAIN MODERN The music of Bach as well as the authentic Bach-sites play an important role for many singers. The tenor Christoph Prégardien tells us why. perfect. Often it was to be found among Gebrauchsmusik (music composed for a par- ticular use or occasion). Bach also composed Gebrauchsmusik, but it is so amazing and thoughtfully composed. When one considers the magnitude of his opus, that is a miracle. » Bach spent some of his most productive years in Weimar. He had three of his sons baptized in the City Church Saint Peter and Paul. Do such authentic sites have a special atmosphere for you? // Christoph Prégardien © Thuringia Bach Festival CP: The authenticity of the place is very im- portant to me. It makes a difference, if one sings » You work with many different composers in locations where Bach himself performed. It is and styles as a musician. Even though that most definitely only a feeling, but it is palpable. is the case, one has the feeling that you Weimar was not a cultural center due to Bach’s keep returning to Bach. What makes his presence alone. The city has an important place works so magical? in the life of any culturally interested person. CP: As a singer, I have always been impressed » Bach’s music is 300 years old and it moves INFO by how composers take a text and transform people even today.