German Conductor Helmuth Rilling, Known as 'Mister Bach', Dies at 92

Helmuth Rilling, the German conductor long nicknamed «Mister Bach», died on Wednesday at the age of 92. For decades he shaped the interpretation of Johann Sebastian Bach's music in Germany, performing it worldwide with his ensembles based in Stuttgart. The charismatic musical ambassador was celebrated for carrying Bach's works far beyond German borders. His death was reported by the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung. The same publication also marked the 100th birthday of Karl Richter, another conductor associated with Bach interpretation, in a headline noting that he even taught extraterrestrials how Bach sounds. Rilling's career was defined by his dedication to Bach's oeuvre, and he was regarded as one of the foremost interpreters of the composer's music. His ensembles from Stuttgart served as his base for international tours and performances. The conductor's passing ends a decades-long presence in the classical music world, where he was recognized for his distinctive approach to Baroque repertoire. No further details about the circumstances of his death or surviving family were provided in the source material.