Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen (28 November 1694 O.S. – 19 November 1728 N.S.) was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen. Today, he is probably best remembered for employing Johann Sebastian Bach as his Kapellmeister between 1717 to 1723.

He was born at Köthen, the second (but eldest surviving) son of Emmanuel Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen, by his wife Gisela Agnes of Rath.

At his birth, the agnates of the Anhalt principalities still did not recognize Leopold's right of inheritance due to the morganatic status of his parents' marriage. These rights were confirmed on 28 June 1698, however, and Leopold was able to succeed his father when he died in 1704, at age ten. His mother, the Dowager Princess Gisela Agnes, acted as regent on his behalf, but King Frederick I of Prussia, according to the late Prince's will, became his "upper guardian." From the beginning of the regency, conflicts arose between the king and the dowager princess: Frederick preferred a Reformist education for Leopold, but Gisela Agnes, a devout Lutheran, planned to raise her son in her own faith.^{[citation needed]} In the meanwhile, the king had founded the Knight's Academy (German: Ritterakademie) in Brandenburg an der Havel, and in 1708 decided to send Leopold there for his education. In November of that year, during the festivities accompanying the King's new marriage, the Berlin court witnessed a performance of the opera Alexander and Roxana by Augustin Reinhard Stricker, in which the fourteen-year-old Leopold performed as a dancer.^{[citation needed]}

Johann Sebastian Bach (31 March [O.S. 21 March] 1685 – 28 July 1750) was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist of the Baroque Period. He enriched many established German styles through his skill in counterpoint, harmonic and motivic organisation, and the adaptation of rhythms, forms, and textures from abroad, particularly from Italy and France. Bach wrote much music, which was revered for its intellectual depth, technical command, and artistic beauty. Many of his works are still known today, such as the Brandenburg Concertos, the Mass in B minor, the Well-Tempered Clavier, and his cantatas, chorales, partitas, passions, and organ works.

Bach was born in Eisenach, Saxe-Eisenach into a very musical family; his father, Johann Ambrosius Bach was the director of the town's musicians, and all of his uncles were professional musicians. His father taught him to play violin and harpsichord, and his brother, Johann Christoph Bach taught him the clavichord, and exposed him to much contemporary music. Bach also sang, and he went to the St Michael's School in Lüneburg, because of his skill in voice. After graduating, he held several musical posts across Germany; he served as Kapellmeister (director of music) to Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen, Cantor of Thomasschule in Leipzig, and Royal Court Composer to August III. Bach's health and vision declined in 1749, and he died on 28 July 1750. Modern historians believe that his death was caused by a combination of stroke and pneumonia.

Sebastian Bach (born April 3, 1968) is a Canadian heavy metal singer who achieved mainstream success as frontman of Skid Row from 1987 to 1996. Since his departure from Skid Row, he has had many television roles, acted in Broadway plays, and led a successful solo career.

Bach was born Sebastian Philip Bierk on April 3, 1968, in Freeport, Bahamas, and raised in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. He attended nearby Lakefield College School in the same class as Michael Kulas, of the British rock group James, a year behind Felipe, Prince of Asturias and a year ahead of the comedian/actor Will Arnett. He is of Norwegian, French Canadian, and Native American descent. Bach's father was the visual artist David Bierk. He is the brother of retired NHL goaltender Zac Bierk, model/actress Heather Dylan Bierk, and Toronto-based artists Jeff, Nick, Alex, and Charles Bierk.

Skid Row initially formed in the late eighties with lead singer Matt Fallon. They began playing at various New Jersey clubs. Fallon would soon leave the band in 1987, leaving Skid Row without a singer. Bach, who had just left his previous band Madam X, was spotted singing at rock photographer Mark Weiss's wedding and the members asked him to join. He turned them down, but changed his mind after hearing the demo tapes of "Youth Gone Wild" and "18 and Life". He sent them a demo of him singing "Saved By Love." They loved it and flew him to New Jersey where they began playing gigs. Sebastian also recorded demos with Bon Jovi & Sabo's friend Jack Ponti. (The song "She's on Top" later came out on Jack Ponti Presents Vol. 1)

Gianluca Luisi is an Italian pianist known for his interpretations of J. S. Bach. whose complete The Well-Tempered Clavier he recorded. Luisi studied at the Rossini Conservatory in Pesaro under the guidance of Franco Scala and, later, at the piano Academy in Imola with Giovanni Valentini, Boris Petrushansky and Piero Rattalino. Luisi now teaches at the Recanati Piano Academy of the Marche.

Luisi won many national and international Piano competition including: the "Città dell’Aquila" and the Mozart prize (Italy) in 1996, the Genzano Competition in Rome (Italy) first prize, the Cesenatico Competition first prize (Italy), the Jeunesse musicales Competition (Italy) first prize (1998), the Torneo Internazionale di Musica, TIM (Roma), first prize (1999), and more.

He also won the second prize at the "Casella" International Competition in Naples and in 2001 he won the first prize in the "J.S.Bach Piano International Competition" in Saarbrücken, Germany (54 pianists from 26 countries took part).

Gianluca Luisi gave many concerts in important Concert Halls including the American Carnegie Hall, and in Italy, Germany, Austria, Luxemburg, Malta, Czecha, etc. He is regularly invited to give concerts in Nagoya, Japan.