By John von Rhein, Chicago Tribune
The idea of performing Johann Sebastian Bach in bulk did not originate in Chicago, of course. But Stephen Alltop appears to have cornered the local market on that particular herculean endeavor.
Alltop, who's well-known as a keyboard player and conductor, also as a professor at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music, coordinated last fall's WFMT Bach Organ Project, a 10-concert festival played by 30 organists on nine pipe organs throughout the city and suburbs. So successful was the event that another such Bachian marathon was virtually mandatory.
Beginning Friday and continuing through Nov. 1, the WFMT Bach Keyboard Festival will treat listeners to virtually all of Bach's works for piano, harpsichord, clavichord and lute – 11 concerts given by more than 70 musicians in recital halls and churches across the metropolitan area. Once again fine arts station WFMT FM 98.7 is sponsoring the enterprise, with Alltop curating all programs.