Bath Mozartfest was founded in 1991 by a generous bequest from a local resident. Yehudi Menuhin conducted the first concert in Bath Abbey and over the past three decades it has grown and is now recognised as one of the leading classical music festivals in Europe.
Every November, top international artists and ensembles, perform the works of W.A Mozart and related composers. As a result, this 9- day, 15 - concert festival attracts capacity audiences of over 8,000 music lovers from all over England and many visitors from abroad (average audience attendance 93%) In 2023, 5 different music holiday tour parties will be staying for a week in Bath and attending all the concerts. Bath Mozarfest has become internationally renowned for its excellence and quality in the classical music field, with BBC Radio 3 regularly broadcasting many concerts and excellent reviews appearing in the national & local media.
Financially, the Festival is quite unique, as it does not receive any council or government funding. It relies solely on income from ticket sales and the generosity of its sponsors and supporters, both corporate and private, in return for a number of different and bespoke benefits. Many local restaurants and hotels also offer their support in kind.
Since 2012, Bath Mozartfest has taken over management of the Bath Bachfest, a smaller 3-day 5-concert festival each February, featuring the works of J.S Bach and his contemporaries.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, both festivals moved successfully online – livestreaming concerts so enabling them to keep in touch with their respective regular audiences and allowing them to reach out to new and different music lovers across the globe.
This year, Bath Mozartfest will feature 15 different chamber, orchestral and choral concerts performed by some of the world’s finest classical musicians under the glittering chandeliers of Assembly Rooms and Bath's art-deco Forum.
