They said no one would ever understand a name like Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society. That chamber music was Serious Business—and that door prizes, mystery guests, playful titles, and a little audience mischief had no place in it. They said a festival like this wouldn’t last.
Thirty-five summers later, here we are—still surprising ourselves, still chasing curiosity, still proving that chamber music can be both passionately committed and Serious Fun. What began as a leap of faith has become a tradition built on trust: trust in great music, fearless artists, and an audience that’s always up for the adventure. So much for “never.”
That said, there are a few things we’ll happily say never to. We’ll never program music that doesn’t make our own hearts race—or give it anything less than our all. We’ll never lose our sense of humor, our love of mischief, or our gratitude for the generosity that keeps this festival humming. And we’ll never take our audience for granted.
After all, you show up year after year, waiting for that familiar thrill to cross your mind: “They’ll never do that.” Never Say Never.
WELL, I NEVER! in Stoughton: Fast-moving and delightfully unexpected, this no-intermission concert combines Rossini’s swagger, Beethoven’s radiant A Major cello sonata, and Haydn’s witty “Chirp Chirp” Symphony No. 97 for a compact burst of brilliance that proves big ideas don’t need a long runway.