Bethlehem Bach Festival Orchestra

It was only in 1941 when the orchestra began to be listed in the program book for the annual Bethlehem Bach Festival, so it is not clear regarding the years Tabuteau played before that time. But we do know that he performed for six years in May—from 1941 to 1945 and in 1947. Sometimes he was given solo billing and other times not. Nevertheless, the Bach repertoire he played consistently included prominent solos which he ‘dispatched’ with great artistry. The following constitute the programs where Tabuteau is listed.

Cantata: Ich habe genug, BWV 21
Mass in B Minor, BWV 232
May 16, 17, 1941
Christmas Oratorio Part IV, BWV 248
Mass in B Minor, BWV 232
May 15, 16, 1942
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, BWV 1047
Mass in B Minor, BWV 232
May 14, 15, 1943
Mass in B Minor, BWV 232
May 19, 20, 1944
Christmas Oratorio Part IV, BWV 248
Easter Oratorio: Sinfonia, BWV 249
The Musical Offering, BWV 1079
John Passion, BWV 245
Mass in B Minor, BWV 232
May 18, 19, 1945
Cantata: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140
Orchestra Suite No. 1, BWV 1066
Mass in B Minor, BWV 232
May 16, 17, 1947

The above programs were provided courtesy of Mary Dawson, Archivist of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem.

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What's New!

An audio interview with Joan Browne (Champie), a private Tabuteau student in the early 1950s.

A photograph of the music stand that was in Tabuteau’s private studio in Philadelphia.

An autographed photo of Marcel Tabuteau inscribed to Vladimir Sokoloff.

An autographed photo of Marcel Tabuteau inscribed to Joan Browne Champie.

With the passing of Wilbur Isaac Hilles in August 2023 and now Martha Scherer-Alfee in February 2024, no oboe students of Marcel Tabuteau at the Curtis Institute are still living.

A letter sent to the Curtis Institute by Laila Storch’s mother about Tabuteau not teaching at Curtis—and the reply.