On Thursday, November 30, the documentary “Living Bach” premiered in Germany, by German producer and director Anna Schmidt, produced by SchmidtFilm and starring, among others, the Bach Society of Paraguay and tenor David Portillo of the Bach Collegium of Asuncion. The premiere is presented by Weltkino and will be screened in 40 cinemas in the European country.

“Anna Schmidt’s ‘Living Bach’ is an inspiring film about the power of Bach’s music to connect people from across continents. With its stunning images and Bach’s magical voice, this musical journey is a unique work in itself. “There are more than 300 ensembles dedicated to Bach throughout the world, bringing together singers, music lovers, and professional and amateur musicians from various cultures, religions, and realities of life,” SchmidtFilm notes on its website, as reported by the documentary.

“Whether they come from Japan, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Paraguay, the United States or Switzerland, they all have a common interest: Johann Sebastian Bach and his works. Their lives are inextricably linked with the music of the world famous German composer. ‘Living Bach’ tracks these enthusiasts, travels the world, reveals their extraordinary, compelling and transformative relationship with Bach’s incomparable art, and accompanies them on their journey to the world’s largest Bach family reunion: the Bach Festival. Leipzig”, added the portal about the documentary, which has two versions: a 114-minute film version, and a 54-minute television version, the latter produced for MittelDeutscher RundFunk (MDR) and the Franco-German channel ARTE.