St John Passion
3rd Bachchor Concert / Johann Sebastian Bach: St John Passion BWV 245
Concert
Peterskirche
Peterskirche
Soprano
Heidi Baumgartner
Alto
Anne Bierwirth
Tenore
Christian Rathgeber
Bass
David Pichlmaier
Conductor
Thomas Gropper
Johann Sebastian Bach’s St John Passion premiered in Leipzig’s Nikolai Church on Good Friday in 1724. He sets the evangelist John’s account of Jesus’ imprisonment, interrogation and crucifixion to music in a rendition that is full of drama and passion. This type of composition was completely novel for audiences of the time. The text of this passion is based on Luther’s translation of the Gospel of John and describes the events from Christ’s imprisonment until his burial. For composer Hans Werner Henze (1926–2012), Bach’s St John Passion »speaks of things that up until then no one could, had dared or even tried to express in music«.