The Legacy of Karl Richter

Karl Richter breathed new life into Bachs music by bringing it to new circles of listeners The church musician Karl Richter 19261981 founded the Munich Bach Orchestra and Bach Choir in the 1950s and thus put into practice his new ideas of Bach interpretation He departed from oppressively large orchestral arrangements introduced a new simplicity allowing the notes to turn directly into music He kindled a blaze of enthusiasm for Bach that goes on to this day The Legacy of Karl Richter documents the main milestones events and people in the life of this great artist and personality It shows his roots in the SaxonThuringian musical tradition and conveys something of the splendor of Karl Richters interpretations of Bach and Handel which remain unsurpassed to this day Light is also shed upon the versatility of Richters musical talent which ranged far beyond Bach and Handel