Highgate Choral Society Spring Concert: Bach St John Passion at All Hallows Church, London on Saturday 11th March 2023

Please note: This concert is in the past and has already taken place.

Highgate Choral Society Spring Concert

Bach St John Passion

Add to my Calendar 11-03-2023 19:00 11-03-2023 21:00 36 Highgate Choral Society Spring Concert HCS’s next concert presents an outstanding choral work from the eighteenth century - Johann Sebastian Bach’s monumental and dramatic St John Passion (BWV 245). In 1723 Bach moved to Leipzig where his duties as newly appointed Kantor included composing the music for the city’s two principal Lutheran churches. Written probably during Lent in 1724, his St John Passion was first performed in the church of St Nicholas on Good Friday 7 April 1724. It was heard four times during Bach’s lifetime, each time with substantial alterations. The St John Passion sets the dramatic Passion story of Christ’s trial and crucifixion as told in the Gospel of St John. The Biblical text at its core is drawn from the Lutheran translation and is sung by the tenor taking the role of the Evangelist. Bach adapted poetic texts for the arias, and for the chorales selected sixteenth and seventeenth century hymns that would have been well-known to the congregations of his day.   Scored for mixed choir, soloists and orchestra, the rich structure of this ‘oratorio-Passion’ includes: two monumental choruses that open and close the work; the Gospel narrative describing scenes in the Kidron Valley, Caiaphas’ palace, the Garden of Gethsemane, Pilate’s quarters, Golgotha and the burial site; solo arias that contemplate and comment on the unfolding events; and simpler chorales representing the response of ordinary congregations hearing the Passion story.   With its enduring message of compassion, hope and salvation, many consider the St John Passion to be the most intensely expressive of Bach’s great choral works. It will be sung by HCS in the well-regarded English version edited by Neil Jenkins. All Hallows Church, London DD/MM/YYYY

Details

All Hallows Church
Savernake Road
Gospel Oak
London
NW3 2JP
England

Saturday 11th March 2023
7:00 PM

Programme

Johann Sebastian Bach – St John Passion, BWV 245

Performers

Ronald Corp – Conductor
Lucy Hall – soprano
Catherine Hopper – mezzo-soprano
William Morgan – tenor
Dingle Yandell – Bass

New London Orchestra
Highgate Choral Society

Programme Note

HCS’s next concert presents an outstanding choral work from the eighteenth century - Johann Sebastian Bach’s monumental and dramatic St John Passion (BWV 245).

In 1723 Bach moved to Leipzig where his duties as newly appointed Kantor included composing the music for the city’s two principal Lutheran churches. Written probably during Lent in 1724, his St John Passion was first performed in the church of St Nicholas on Good Friday 7 April 1724. It was heard four times during Bach’s lifetime, each time with substantial alterations.

The St John Passion sets the dramatic Passion story of Christ’s trial and crucifixion as told in the Gospel of St John. The Biblical text at its core is drawn from the Lutheran translation and is sung by the tenor taking the role of the Evangelist. Bach adapted poetic texts for the arias, and for the chorales selected sixteenth and seventeenth century hymns that would have been well-known to the congregations of his day.

Scored for mixed choir, soloists and orchestra, the rich structure of this ‘oratorio-Passion’ includes: two monumental choruses that open and close the work; the Gospel narrative describing scenes in the Kidron Valley, Caiaphas’ palace, the Garden of Gethsemane, Pilate’s quarters, Golgotha and the burial site; solo arias that contemplate and comment on the unfolding events; and simpler chorales representing the response of ordinary congregations hearing the Passion story.

With its enduring message of compassion, hope and salvation, many consider the St John Passion to be the most intensely expressive of Bach’s great choral works. It will be sung by HCS in the well-regarded English version edited by Neil Jenkins.

Highgate Choral Society - Bach's St John Passion

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