Bach Society of St. Louis is spreading the word about what they do and spreading a love of Bach with Bach Talk, a new podcast.
The podcast “pulls back the curtain” to give listeners a glimpse at the lives of the performers and leaders that make the concerts special and the organization run.
“(Bach Talk) allows us to get some in-depth discussion with people who are a part of the Bach Society, either as a member of the chorus or the board or the orchestra, or some of our wonderful soloists that we bring into town,” says A. Dennis Sparger, music director and conductor of the Bach Society since 1986 (and the subject of Bach Talk’s inaugural episode). “It’s really easy to see a soloist as a one-dimensional person: They perform, and that’s it. But there’s absolutely much more to the story.”
The idea for the podcast started during the pandemic, when Sparger and host Ron Klemm, who previously worked in radio together, recorded a series of Sparger’s lectures on Bach to upload to the society’s website. The lectures soon evolved into the idea of a podcast.
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Bach Talk stands out from other classical music podcasts.
“When we were in the exploratory stage, we listened to a few podcasts of other organizations around the country that were very technical, and Ron and I made the decision that we don’t need to duplicate what someone else is doing,” Sparger says. “We wanted to talk about the people who make Bach, and we think that this is where we build the stronger relationship with others, because people love people.”
The Bach Society was founded in 1941 and is now in its 84th season as St. Louis’ oldest continuous choral society. The society focuses on bringing the music of German composer Johann Sebastian Bach to the St. Louis region.
“We have an incredible legacy,” says Klemm, who has been a singer with the society since the 1990s.
Klemm has been in radio since his high school days as a sports broadcaster. A lover of classical and choral music, he hosted a radio show with renowned St. Louis Symphony Orchestra conductor Leonard Slatkin on the classical station KFUO Radio.
The station was sold in 2010, but Klemm never lost his knack for radio, nor his love for Bach. Bach Society Executive Director Melissa Payton says those two things have made Klemm pivotal to the show’s success.
“(Klemm’s) history is, I think, what makes it really special that (he’s) the producer of this podcast,” Payton says. “I think people that are regular podcast listeners are very impressed by the quality of the podcast.”
“The podcast strengthens relationships with the people who already embrace us. They grab us a little tighter because they know a little bit more,” Sparger adds. “But also we find other people, not only in the community, but across the country, are finding out a little more about us and building a connection.”
The first episode of Bach Talk aired in August 2023. Since then, the podcast has reached listeners in 49 states and 54 countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia and Spain. Among the guests featured are internationally acclaimed Dutch soprano Josefien Stoppelenburg and Gene Stenger, hailed as an “impressive tenor” by the New York Times.
Each episode averages 208 listens, with a total of 3,238 listens, though Payton hopes to see that number grow.
“I think initially, at least, I was thinking about (the show) with a narrow lens, and just thinking kind of small-scale,” says Payton. “Now I think we’re all thinking bigger.”
“We wanted to let people know who we are, tell our story.” Klemm says. “Well, we’ve done that, and we’re going to continue to do that. … But we also want to — now that we realize the scope of this — broaden out.”
Bach Talk has already begun to do that in its second season, with episodes starring not only Bach Society members (including Payton) but also authors from outside of St. Louis who have written about Bach, such as Calvin R. Stapert. Several topical programs are also in the works, exploring ideas like music in education and music therapy.
Out of all of Bach Talk’s attempts to expand, perhaps the one Klemm is most excited about is a live recording of the podcast scheduled for the annual Chorus America conference this June, where Klemm will interview none other than Slatkin himself.
“Someone of Maestro Slatkin’s stature will most certainly be a major draw for not only the podcast, but music lovers everywhere,” Klemm says. “We are so blessed to have him.”
For Payton, Bach Talk’s success is not only exciting for the Bach Society, but pivotal to supporting the choral arts in St. Louis and nationwide.
“Choral music arts organizations around the country are struggling,” Payton says. “This is another way for us to educate and inform and, hopefully, get others on board with why this is so important, and why we need to continue to move it forward.”
You can listen to Bach Talk on all major podcast platforms or at bachsociety.org/bach-talk. New episodes of Bach Talk are available monthly.
An unknown musical work attributed to European composer Frédéric Chopin was performed by pianist Tony Siqi Yun.
