The 108th Bethlehem Bach Festival, May 1, 2, 8 and 9, is a re-imagining of the more than 100-year-old festival, combining cherished tradition with fresh perspective.

The springtime festival, held in charming venues in the historic town of Bethlehem, as well as on the beautiful Lehigh University campus, attracts thousands of lovers of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach from across the United States and beyond.

The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, Bach Festival Orchestra and distinguished soloists are conducted by Greg Funfgeld now in his 32nd year as artistic director.

The centerpiece of the Festival continues to be the annual performances of Bach's "Mass in B Minor," which was given its American premiere by The Bach Choir of Bethlehem in 1900.

Bach Cantatas range from the most intimate Cantata 152 for soprano and bass and a small instrumental ensemble of recorder, oboe, viola d'amore and viola da gamba to the powerful and stirring Cantata 69.

Soloists for the Mass and Cantata Concerts include festival favorites Rosa Lamoreaux and Agnes Zsigovics, sopranos; Daniel Taylor, countertenor, and William Sharp, baritone.

Making their festival debuts are Sherezade Panthaki, soprano; Stephen Ng, tenor, and Dashon Burton, bass.

The festival also welcomes J. Reilly Lewis, music director of the Washington Bach Consort, to give the Distinguished Scholar Lecture, "A Lifetime with Bach."

The re-imagining of the festival includes increased involvement of young artists, expanded educational opportunities, and the addition of several more intimate venues for interaction between artists and audience. These include "Bach at 4" in the Incarnation of our Lord Church, an historic Catholic Church on Southside Bethlehem, where Funfgeld will give engaging introductions to the works performed; "Chamber Music in the Saal" of the Moravian Museum; and "Zimmermann's Coffee House," a late-night "unbuttoned" program of chamber music, food and drink offered in the beautiful Terrace Room of the Historic Hotel Bethlehem and modeled after the Zimmermann's Coffee House of Bach's time in Leipzig, Germany.

Hospitality abounds with new features such as an improved shuttle service and an outdoor seating area with refreshments in addition to the traditional Festival Lunch and Dinner-Discussion.

This year, the Bach Festival also presents the gifted young violinist Caroline Goulding as Festival Artist-in-Residence. She is featured in Bach's Violin Concerto in E Major in the Friday evening concerts. Goulding has been a guest soloist with The Cleveland Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony and Deutsche Radio Philharmonie. She has appeared in recital at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Beijing's Forbidden City Concert Hall, and the Louvre Museum.

New opportunities for participation of youth and adult singers of all levels include Bach Chorale Singing with Funfgeld and members of The Choir. Pre-concert performances by youth ensembles, in addition to the traditional Festival Brass Choir, have expanded and the festival also features a new educational initiative, The Chaconne Project, conceived and directed by Dr. Larry Lipkis. This features talented young musicians from area high schools who have written their own variations on the chord progression that underlays Bach's famous "Chaconne in D Minor" for solo violin. As part of the Saturday morning, Bach Festival Orchestra Concerts, the students will play their creative variations with the orchestra followed by a performance of the sublime masterpiece in its original form by Caroline Goulding May 2 and concertmaster Elizabeth Field May 9.

108th Bethlehem Bach Festival

Fridays, May 1, 8

2 p.m.: Distinguished Scholar Lecture,"A Lifetime with Bach," J. Reilly Lewis, music director, Washington Bach Consort, Butz Lobby, Zoellner Arts Center

4 p.m.: "Two Hidden Gems"

Choice A: "Bach at 4," Incarnation of Our Lord Church, Thomas and Buchanan streets, Bethlehem. Greg Funfgeld hosts a "Bach at Noon" style concert, introducing works performed by members of The Choir and Bach Festival Orchestra.

Cantata 182, "Himmelskönig sei willkommen" ("King of Heaven welcome")

Duets from Cantatas 78 and 23 sung by Agnes Zsigovics and Daniel Taylor

Antonio Vivaldi, "Concerto for Recorder in D major (The Goldfinch)"

Cantata 45, "Er ist dir, gesagt, Mensch, was gut ist" ("It hath been told to you, mankind, what is good")

Bach Chorale Sing Part 1: Arrive early for "Bach at 4" and experience 20 minutes of singing Bach chorales with Greg Funfgeld before the concert. Singers of all levels are welcome and sheet music is provided.

Choice B: "Chamber Music in the Saal," Saal of the Moravian Museum, Church St., Bethlehem

This concert in the intimate Saal of the 17th century Moravian Museum will feature Sherezade Panthaki, soprano; Elizabeth Field, violin; Mollie Glazer, viola da gamba, and Charlotte Mattax Moersch, harpsichord. The program explores Bach and the French influence and includes the secular cantata "L'impatience" by Jean-Philippe Rameau. (The Saal is on the second floor of the museum and is not handicapped accessible.)

5:45 p.m.: Buffet Dinner with informal talk, Dr. Larry Lipkis, Professor of Music and composer-in-residence, Moravian College, Asa Packer Room, Lehigh University

7 p.m.: Pre-concert performances (30 minutes) by the Young People's Philharmonic brass ensemble (May 1) and Lehigh Valley Suzuki Violin Program (May 8). Brass Choir Tent, near Packer Memorial Church.

8 p.m.: Bach Cantatas and Concerto, Packer Memorial Church, Lehigh University

Cantata 172, "Erschallet, ihr Lieder" "(Ring forth O songs")

Cantata 152 (Dialogue cantata for soprano and bass), "Tritt auf die Glaubensbahn" ("Step upon the path of faith")

Concerto for Violin in E Major BWV 1042, Caroline Goulding, violin

Cantata 69, "Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele" ("Praise the Lord")

Saturdays, May 2, 9

9:45 a.m.: Pre-concert performances (30 minutes) by the Suzuki Violin Program (May 2) and Bel Canto Children's Chorus (May 9), Zoellner Arts Center Atrium

10:30 a.m.: Bach Festival Orchestra & The Bach Chaconne Project, Baker Hall, Zoellner Arts Center

"Brandenburg Concerto No. 1," BWV 1046

Bach Chaconne Project

"Chaconne in D Minor from Partita for solo violin," BWV1004, Caroline Goulding (May 2), Elizabeth Field (May 9)

"Orchestral Suite No. 4," BWV 1069

Bach Chaconne Project: Before Bach's famous "Chaconne in D Minor" is performed in its original form, talented young instrumentalists prepared by Dr. Larry Lipkis will perform variations they have composed over the chord progression of the Chaconne with the Bach Festival Orchestra.

12:15 p.m.: Festival Lunch, Butz Lobby, Zoellner Arts Center

1:30, 3:30 p.m.: Pre-concert performances (30 minutes) by the Festival Brass Choir, Brass Choir Tent near Packer Memorial Church

2 p.m.: Bach Chorale Sing Part 2, Brass Choir tent near Packer Memorial Church. Sing Bach chorales with Greg Funfgeld. Gather by the Brass Choir tent and you will be accompanied by the Festival Brass Choir.

2:30 p.m.: The Mass in B Minor (Part 1), 4:30 p.m. (Part 2), Packer Memorial Church. A glorious tradition treasured by thousands of people from throughout the United States and beyond since the American premiere of Bach's monumental "Mass" at the first Bethlehem Bach Festival in 1900.

9 - 11 p.m.: "Zimmermann's Coffee House," Terrace Room, Historic Hotel Bethlehem. A new late-night "unbuttoned" event modeled after Zimmermann's Coffee House of Bach's time in Leipzig, Germany. For a cover charge, you can listen to Baroque chamber music performed by young musicians (chosen by audition) and purchase German fare such as bratwurst, trout with spätzle, and apple strudel by chef Michael Adams, and wine and beer. There may even be some surprise guests to add to the festivity. Dr. Larry Lipkis is master of ceremonies.

Tickets: bach.org, 610-866-4382; 888-743-3100, ext. 10 or 15