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Title: Carmel Bach Festival Collection
Dates: 1935-present
Collection Number: B32
Creator/Collector:
Carmel Bach Festival
Extent: 26 archival boxes
Repository:
Harrison Memorial Library
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California 93921
Abstract: The Bach Festival was started in 1935 by Dene Denny and Hazel Watrous as a four-day festival of open rehearsals, events, and
concerts conducted by Ernst Bacon and Gastone Usigli. Over the years, it grew to a three-week celebration of concerts, recitals,
master classes, lectures, and open rehearsals. The Festival's mission is to celebrate the works, inspiration and ongoing influence
of Johann Sebastian Bach worldwide by immersing audiences in a festival experience integrating music, education and ideas.
Language of Material: English
Materials are open for research.
The Henry Meade Local History Room, Harrison Memorial Library does not hold copyright to these items. Permission to publish
must be obtained from the copyright holder by the user.
[Identification of item]. Carmel Bach Festival Collection. Collection Number: B32. Harrison Memorial Library
Donated by Nana Faridany; Eleanor Avila; and the Carmel Bach Festival.
Biography/Administrative History
In 1935 Dene Denny and Hazel Watrous founded the Carmel Bach Festival on the premise that Carmel-by-the-Sea should become
the epicenter of world-class music, art and cultural expression. Both women were musical producers, owners of the influential
Dene-Watrous Gallery and well-known for their efforts in enhancing the cultural life of the Monterey Peninsula. The Festival
began as a three-day festival of open rehearsals, events, and concerts with Ernst Bacon as guest conductor.
In 1938, Gastone Usigli was named conductor, leading the Festival until his death in 1956. Dene Denny chose the next conductor,
a young man named Sandor Salgo. Under Salgo's 36-year leadership the largely amateur Festival became professional, nationally
recognized and extended to multiple weeks. Salgo's long tenure as a Stanford University professor created a link between musical
sponsorship and the emerging study of historical performance practices and a rediscovery of Baroque music.
When Salgo retired in 1991, Bruno Weil was named the Music Director and Conductor of the Carmel Bach Festival. During his
seventeen years with the Festival, Maestro Weil has advanced the Festival's international reputation for artistic excellence,
innovative programming and exciting new artists.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection contains photographs of various sizes, the majority of which are B&W 8x10’s, spanning from the 1930’s to the
1980s. There are contact prints and photographs bound together by plastic spiral binding. Also present are clippings about
the Bach festival, issues of the Carmel Pine Cone, Carmel Valley Spectator, and programs from 1935-2020s.
Music festival programs
Music festivals
Denny, Dene
Sullivan, Noel
Usigli, Gastone, 1897-1956
Watrous, Hazel
Weil, Bruno, 1949-
Ahlers, Alice
Linsley, Ralph
Salgo, Sandor, 1909-2007
Forest Theater (Carmel, Calif.)
Carmel Pine Cone Press
Natividad Elementary School (Salinas, Calif.)
Hollow Hills Farm (Carmel Valley, Calif.)
Bach Fest Chorus
Carmel (Calif.)
Concert programs
Photographs
Newspapers
CONDUCTOR, ORCHESTRA
MUSICIAN, INSTRUMENTAL
SINGER