On the death of Helmuth Rilling

“Ein Leben mit Bach” was the title of the book of conversations between Helmuth Rilling and Hanspeter Krellmann, published by Bärenreiter and Henschel in 2013. There is no more concise way to summarise what Rilling considered his mission and what he meant to the world of music. The conductor passed away on 11 February at the age of 92.
Rilling was born on 29 May 1933 in Stuttgart, studied church music in his hometown, and in 1953 he founded the Gächinger Kantorei which he led to international renown in the years that followed. After various other positions, the founding of the International Bach Academy Stuttgart in 1981 marked the decisive milestone in Rilling’s career. He headed the institution until 2013, creating a platform that enabled him to perform the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and many other composers in the way he had envisaged. “Throughout my entire life, I was always able to do what I believed was right,” he once said in an interview. His energy was seemingly inexhaustible. Concerts on every continent and an extensive discography bear witness to this.

Rilling was connected to Bärenreiter through his book “Ein Leben mit Bach”, his early recordings for the Musicaphon label, his work as co-editor of the “Musik & Kirche” magazine from 1988 to 2003, and, of course, his love of Johann Sebastian Bach’s music.

The publishing family and Bärenreiter staff extend their heartfelt condolences to the family. (Photos: Bachakademie/Holger Schneider)