St. John Passion, BWV 245 by Bach, J. S., Sat 16 Mar 2024, From (2024/2024), Conductor Michael Bawtree

Glasgow Chamber Choir is delighted to be presenting this concert, the first time we have sung this amazing work since 2007. Although it is now 300 years since the first performance of JS Bach’s St John Passion in Leipzig in 1724, it has lost none of its power to convey the drama and emotion of the story of the passion of Christ as told in St John’s gospel. The narrative is sung by the Evangelist, interspersed with choral items and arias which reflect the action. The choir becomes the crowds of scribes and Pharisees, the public, chief priests and soldiers at different points in the drama, but also sing chorales throughout which reflect on the action and its meaning. There are also eloquent arias for solo voices which appeal directly to the emotions of the listener. The Passion begins and end with monumental choruses reflecting the grief, triumph and timelessness of the Christian message.