Bach on Track: Fest changes tune

By Tom Adams Published: Jun 25, 2008 at 3:40 PM PST Last Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 9:13 PM PST

FRIDAY, JUNE 27
• Bach’s B Minor Mass, 7:30 p.m., Portland’s Arlene Schnitzer Hall Tickets at Ticketmaster

SATURDAY, JUNE 28
• PICCFEST choirs at Hayward Field: 350 young singers from all across the country perform their
traditional Bach Festival opening ceremony on the outdoor stage of the Olympic Trials. 11:30 a.m., Hayward Field FREE
• Inside Line: Pre-concert talk by Robert Levin on Bach’s B Minor Mass. 6:30 p.m., Hult Center Studio FREE
• Bach’s B Minor Mass, 7:30 p.m., Silva Hall, Hult Center
Tickets still available

SUNDAY, JUNE 29
• Piano Duo Robert Levin and Ya-Fei Chuang. Overhead video screen will give audience a close-up view. 4 p.m., Jaqua Hall, The Shedd. Tickets still available
• PICCFEST Gala Concert: the Pacific International Children’s Choir Festival, featuring
350 young singers from nine different choirs, directed by Bob Chilcott. 7:30 p.m., Silva Hall, Hult Center Tickets still available

EUGENE, Ore. - Track and field meets Johann Sebastian Bach in just a few days in Eugene.

As track fans fill Hayward Field, thousands of classical music lovers will be tuning in for the Oregon Bach Festival.

But is there enough interest to go around?

A little creative scheduling goes a long way.

The Bach Festival is used to having the local stage all to its own in late June. However, instead of a discord between track and music, Bach Festival organizers think the two will go hand in hand.

They're in the starting blocks -- ready to perform.

The Bach Festival concert choir is going through final rehearsals for opening night Friday: a performance of Bach's B Minor Mass.

But opening night is not in Eugene.

"I didn't think it was very sensible to be going head to head with the trials, with a big concert at the Hult," said Dr. John Evans, the new executive director of the Bach Festival.

This Friday night, the Festival opens in Portland, then returns to Eugene Saturday night for the same B Minor Mass.

Evans said the Back Festival is working with the schedule to blend with the 2008 Olympic Trials and attract new audiences.

"We knew that a lot of new people would be coming to town: people who don't know Eugene, who don't know about the Bach Festival," Evans said. "They are coming here for the Trials, but they'll be looking for entertainment."

COMPETITION SCHEDULE
Track and field event days and times

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Free and open to the public

TRANSPORTATION
How to get around Eugene

EXPLORE THE EUGENE AREA
What to do in Eugene and Oregon

Questions? Check the FAQs, or ask us.

The cross-promotional spirit can also be seen outside the Hult Center, with banners for both the Bach Festival and the Olympic Trials.

The track and music partnership comes to full flower on the night of July 1 at the Hult with a concert in tribute to the late University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman.

The 60 member Festival chorus will present much of the music for "Bowerman: Man of Oregon." They are singers from all over the nation.

"We have veteran singers who have been with this festival for over 20 years, mentoring young singers who are in this festival for the first time," said Kathy Romey, chorus concert master

With ticket sales running ahead of last year, new executive director John Evans says this a race both sides will win.

"More than co-exist; I think we'll be thriving with it," said Evans.

Elements from the Festival will also move across town during the '08 Trials. Small groups from the Bach Festival will have four programs on the '08 Eugene Festival stage, next door to Hayward.

More than 30,000 people are expected to attend Bach Festival events this summer.