|
Bach wrote his setting of the Passion story as told in St. John's Gospel in 1724. At that time Bach was Cantor at St. Thomas's Church in Leipzig, with responsibility for the music at three additional churches in the city. It is written for smaller forces than the later St. Matthew Passion, but is no less dramatic or telling in its portrayal of Christ's last days. Bach the Theologian also comes to the fore in his choice of keys as his music looks forward, as does St. John's message, to the Resurrection.
The Chiswick Choir has a first class team of soloists for this performance that will be sung in English using the New Novello Edition, edited by Neil Jenkins. This allows for the text to be sung, especially in the recitatives, without distorting Bach's original line. As in previous Chiswick Choir performances, the audience will be invited to join in two of the chorales. |
