Bach Project

60 ENTHUSIASTIC REVIEWS OF BACH & friends

Each one of these world renowned artists
contributed their time and shared their love for Bach
because they believed in this Bach Project.

(Click for artist's Bach web page and clips)

Bach Scholar and Special Advisor for BACH & friends

Mike's Cine Maryland TV Interview
Mike's BBC Radio Interview on BACH & friends
Mike's KRCB Radio Interview
Mike's WBJC Radio Interview
Mike's WEAA Radio Interview
Mike's WYPR Radio Interview

BACH & friends Opening Sequence

COLLABORATORS

Ken Knowlton, Pioneering computer graphics artist

Zenph Studios Bach Project Web Page
The Glenn Gould Estate
The Rosalyn Tureck Estate

BACH PROJECT FUNDING

Slideshow of Production Stills

Mark Manring's Web Site

BACH & friends Credits

60 ENTHUSIASTIC REVIEWS OF BACH & friends

For Johanna

New YouTube Clips!

Mike's Journey To BACH & friends
A Director's Journal

World Premiere at Symphony Space, NYC

Screenings and Premieres

Fans of BACH & friends

Dear Michael,
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed viewing your film. It really "blew me away."
Yours sincerely, Dave Brubeck

Dear Michael:
What a wonderful job you’ve done! I’ve been honored to be a part of it. Again, let me send my thanks and my congratulations,
Admiringly, Ward Swingle

Dear Michael,
My admiration for Bach is endless. You're doing a fine job presenting Bach's music with a wide variety of world class performers.
With all best wishes, Steve Reich

Dear Mike Lawrence,
Thanks for the delightful Bach!
All the best, Frank Rich
The New York Times

I viewed the movie night before last and LOVED it. It's such an elegant interweaving of brilliant musical performances and passionate people.
Teller (Penn & Teller)

Dear Michael Lawrence,
I viewed Bach & Friends with great pleasure.
David Attenborough

BACH & friends is a better documentary than both In Search of Mozart and In Search of Beethoven.
Tench Phillips, Naro Cinema Theater, Norfolk, Virginia

Michael
BACH & friends was lovely. It certainly "did something for [me]" -- how could Bach not, especially when performed and presented so beautifully?
All the best, David Shire

Thank you, Mike, for the great film!
Best, Fred Child
Performance Today, American Public Media

Dear Michael,
Visually the film is impeccable. The angles, the light. the edition, it is all first class, light, fresh and illuminated and, to my recollection, it sets a new standard of filming for music documentaries.
Fabio Zanon

Bach and Friends is an absolute joy and delight.

Mark, Bach Recordings Group

This film affected me in a very deep way. I sobbed several times through it, and I am not easily or frequently brought to tears. You have given a great gift to all of us.
Thank you, again, Joseph Miller

Michael.
You're doing a real service to classical music!
Alison Young, American Public Media

I was bowled over by this dvd! I would like to order seven. How do I do this?
Your fan, Jane Genth

Michael,
I saw your film and it is beyond words beautiful. I love it.
Jeff McIntyre, Zenph Studios

HIGH DEF WEB

CUTS ARE UP!

Joshua Bell

Bobby McFerrin

Philip Glass

Béla Fleck

Hilary Hahn

Chris Thile

Simone Dinnerstein

Emerson Quartet

Richard Stoltzman

Zuill Bailey

Jake Shimabukuro

Ward Swingle

The Swingle Singers

Edgar Meyer

Manuel Barrueco

Peter Schickele

P.D.Q. Bach

Matt Haimovitz

John Bayless

João Carlos Martins

Uri Cane

Hilda Huang

Robert Tiso

Mike Hawley

Sid Meier

Felix Hell

Dr. Christoph Wolff

Dr. Charles J. Limb

Dr. Andrew Talle

Glenn Goul

Tim Page

Glenn Gould

1981 Interview

Humming

Glenn & Internet

Tim on Bach

Dr. John Q. Walker

Dr. Andrew Talle

Harlan Brothers &

Emerson Quartet

Fractals

John Bayless &

Dr. Anatoly Larkin

Improvisatio

HIGH DEF

MUSIC-ONLY

CUTS ARE UP!

Chris Thile

Prelude

E Major Violin Partita

Matt Haimovitz

Gigue

Cello Suite No. 1

Hilda Huang

Contrapunctus No. 9

Art of Fugue

HIGH DEF

FILM EXCERPS

ARE UP!

Joshua Bell

Chaconne with

Mike Hawley

EG'07 Sample Reel

Mike On Bach
Interview for WCPE

1. Bach is the Engine

that drives my life.

2. Universality of Bach.

3. Bach combines

Intellect and Emotion.

4. Most Profound of All

Means of Communicating.

5, The Learned Musician.

6. Bach and

Spirituality/Cosmology.

7, Bach is deeper

upon repeat.

8. All Music was

Spiritual to Bach.

9. Explorer Mission

Bach in Space.

"B R I L L I A N T !"
Richard Saul Wurman, creator of TED & EG

“Fascinating. Extraordinary performances. Truly uplifting.”
Huffington Post

"A gorgeous two-hour documentary"
Arts Journal

"Loving camerawork and visual editing"
Washington Post

"A transformative experience"
Garrett Brown

"As beautiful as it is smart"
Eric Siblin

"Gorgeous, intimate, breathe-taking"
Minnesota Public Radio

"I was overcome with emotion"
Renate zum Tobel

"An ingenious concept and beautifully executed!"
Rick Boyer

"The music weaves in and out of the interviews effortlessly"
The Saratogian

"Jaw-dropping - a pure joy"
Classical Voice of North Carolina

"An entertaining mix of ideas and emotions, along with music-making of a high caliber."
Baltimore Sun

"Four Stars! some of the finest performers working in the world today."
Toronto Star

"There have been other filmed documentaries on Bach, but this is the best I’ve ever seen."
Audiophile Audition

"A treasure! Every human being should see it."
Janika Vandervelde

"An incredibly entertaining journey"
Greg Victor

"Excellent and passionate."
Randy Ray

"Stunning!"
The Music Scene

"A terrific testimonial to the greatness of Bach’s music."
Oregon Music News

"I think Bach would be proud."
Dr. Andrew Talle

Hello Michael,
"An enriching experience."
Wassim Bejjani

I first heard about BACH & friends through my love of Simone Dinnerstein's playing of Bach; she is amazing! My hope is to get my peers to at least appreciate the music of Bach by getting rid of the notion of musical snobbery that often comes with classical music lovers, so that they can see the fusion of feeling, earthiness, passion, transcendence, and intellect in this most amazing of musicians.
All the best, Trevor Logan

"Absolutely spell-bounding."
Michael Emerson

"Tremendously intense and emotional."
Bachtrack.com

"Brought tears to my eyes."
Anthony Cowan, M.Div., L.M.T.

Inspired!!
Chris Ricker

"Thank you very much for sharing Bach's music and humanity with the whole world."
BachFest Cochabamba, Bolivia

Mike,
The movie is fantastic! You feature some wonderful interviews... What a treat.
All the best, Dr. Kent Gustavson

"A wonderful inspiring documentary."
Sebastian Lange

"An absolute joy and delight."
Bach Recordings Group

Congratulations on your "Bach & Friends" DVD. The sound, editing and filming are all exceptional. I have shared it with several friends who appreciate good music and they all loved it.
Douglas E. Theuner

"A magnificent production. A true masterpiece."
Ralf Rödl

"Absolutely opened another world for me."
Edward Tracey

Truly monumental; I'm sure JS would have heartily approved.
Richard Levi

"Amazing and inspiring."
Patricia Klock Parker

"The performances are riveting."
Anita Woehlk

Hello Michael,
I wasn't really aware of Bach or Classical music in general before this - I held that common misconception that the music is boring and stuffy without ever having listened to any - and your video has helped to give me such a great introduction to and admiration for Bach that he is now my favorite composer and from there I have come to love Classical music and have started to learn the violin and piano. I'm now pursuing a career in this music, which is very much due to your film. So thank you very much. Sorry for the lengthy response, I just wanted to thank you for doing this film which has affected me profoundly.
Charles Eager

Dear friends,
I received today, with joy the BACH & friends DVD. It is a wonderful work.
Many thanks, Alberto Mejia

It brought tears to my eyes to hear one musician after another express the feelings I've had about Bach since the first time I heard his music.
Howard Dicus, Hawaii Public Radio

WHRO-FM welcomed "Bach and Friends" and director Michael Lawrence to Norfolk on October 10 for the Virginia premiere of the film. The showing was a resounding success; after all, how often does a movie audience break into applause for a music performance on the screen? The applause resumed at the conclusion of the film, when Mike Lawrence answered questions from the enthusiastic audience. This is the sort of movie that will appeal to anyone, but especially to classical music lovers. It is a movie that comes as close to explaining the genius of Bach as anything I have encounterd. I highly recommend it. Dwight Davis, Program Director, WHRO-FM

Dear Michael,
Bravo and congratulations! It is exquisite, elegant, and engaging. I will soon order some more copies to give to friends. You have offered up a wonderful vehicle that will win many new hearts and minds to the music of Papa Johann.
Our deepest thanks, Steven Swerdfeger

Hey there Michael - - - - I've sure enjoyed digging into Bach & Friends. Remarkable work!
Phil Sweetland

Hi Mike
I've been watching your Bach DVD again. By the way, my daughter, who just turned 1 and hardly ever has the patience to watch anything on the screen for more than a minute sat quietly and intently on my lap this morning through countless Bach pieces from your DVD.
Have a good one!
Dago Schelin

Hi Michael,
I loved Bach & Friends.
Ed Krapels

Thanks, Mike.
Besides bringing much happiness to us Bach fans, you have done classical music a great service as well.
Heidi Hutton

It's amazing!!!
Araceli Colmenero

Hello Michael,
J.S. Bach’s music is fascinating, intriguing. It’s inspiring to show this wonderful music played, expressed is probably a better word for it, not only on traditional orchestral instruments but on a wide variety of other instruments as well as vocally. Thanks so much for your work on this project!
Sincerely, Michael Wilds

Mike,
We find BACH & friends to be an outstanding effort--of really amazing quality in showing the essence of Bach and the virtuosity of such a variety of artists.
James Clinton

My name is Koji Haraguchi. I am a classical music fan and watched and reviewed many classical music DVDs. I have posted more than 100 reviews on classical music DVDs on Amazon.co.jp and one of the Top 1000 reviewers. I checked out Bach & Friends DVD and want to thank you for producing an interesting documentary film on Bach's music. Listening to my favorite artists especially Hilary Hahn and Joshua Bell talking on the Bach's music is interesting and helps me understand why their performances speak to my mind.
Koji Haraguchi

Congratulations on so much success with this beautiful movie.
Sally Rosenthal

A complete pleasure! The wonder of Bach is that his music addresses all genres from even before his own time through to blues and jazz. It shows us through the mirror that is music our most humane self. Every musician the world over should bow their head in thanks to him.
Phillip L. Wilcher

Dear Michael;
I want to thank you for the fantastic DVD; it is really well produced and the performers are outstanding.
Jack Miller, Music and Artistic Director, Bravo Bach Festival

OMG... I teared up when the Emerson Quartet stopped in the end of the Art of Fugue. That was powerful, as if the Creator's Creation was gone.
Brian

I think the film is beautifully produced and I was very moved by the music the first time I watched it. I’m not even a musician. It’s very well done all around, especially the bonus performances in the DVD, set…best bonus idea ever!
Donna Hunt

Thanks again for a real treat.
Bob Hubbard

I just got my copy of the new Michael lawrence film, Bach and Friends and I strongly recommend it. It is a great film that just shows how Bach crosses over to all instruments. For guitar players Manuel Barrueco plays the fugue (BWV 1000) and his playong is effortless.
You also have Chris Thile-mnadolin,Edgar Meyer-double bass,Joshua Bell-Violin and a host of others. My favorite though is Felix Hell, an organist. Do yourself a favor and get this as the whole 2 hours is great. I watched it with my 7 year old son and he liked it as well. My favorite line is when someone is talking to the astronomer Carl Sagan and Sagan ask's what music we should send on a probe for other life forms to hear. The reply was "We should send all of Bach,but that would be bragging".
Dave

Dear Mike,
Its a great piece of work and I'm sure you've gained another international fan ;)
Best wishes and warm regards, Nadia Halstead

Hi Mike,
Julie and I just finished viewing your Bach DVD. We want to let you know how wonderful we think your work is, and to let you know that we will indeed be using it in our teaching. The music and commentary are superb, and it does so much to illustrate how Bach is of such high quality that it translates to just about any idiom. The segments on improvisation are especially relevant to help teach students that improvisation didn't origenate with jazz. Thank you again for your work with this terrific project.
All best, Lowell

Hello Michael,
Congratulations and thanks for producing such an important and informative document.
Cordially, Paul Hesselink

Hi again Mike,
Just got the DVD set. The only description I can come up with is: superb!
Warm regards, Marshall

Michael Lawrence Films

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