Leonard Slatkin, an internationally acclaimed conductor, composer and author, will be the guest speaker at a special lecture, “Bach and the Art of Transcription,” honoring Lutheran composer Johann Sebastian Bach, set for 5 p.m. CST Thursday, Feb. 23, at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis with a reception to follow in the Kristine Kay Hasse Memorial Library. The event is free and open to the public.

Slatkin, who has conducted virtually all the leading orchestras in the world, is music director laureate of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO), directeur musical honoraire of the Orchestre National de Lyon (ONL), conductor laureate of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) and principal guest conductor of the Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria (OFGC).

Following the lecture, attendees may participate in a special viewing of Bach’s annotated Bible, which has been in the Concordia Seminary library collection since it was gifted by the Reichle family of Frankenmuth, Mich., in the 1930s.

“We at Concordia Seminary are privileged to be the custodians of Bach’s personal Bible,” said Dr. Paul Robinson, director of Library Services and professor of Historical Theology. “As the St. Louis area is home to numerous Bach afficionados, it seems natural to gather annually to celebrate the man and his music. It’s a special honor this year to welcome Leonard Slatkin to campus to share his experience of Bach’s music with us.”

Bach was born March 31, 1685, in Eisenach, Germany. He died in 1750 in Leipzig, Germany, at the age of 65. Bach is known for his contributions to the discipline of music, being regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time. This event marks what would be Bach’s 338^th birthday.

About Concordia Seminary

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis provides Gospel-centered graduate-level theological education for pastors, missionaries, deaconesses, scholars and other leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). To learn more, visit csl.edu.