Organization

Singer

Contralto

Wiebke Lehmkuhl

Mezzo-soprano

Tenor

Florian Sievers

Georg Poplutz

Bass

Yorck Felix Speer

Stage director

Matthias Janser

Orchestra

Elbipolis Barockorchester Hamburg

Others

Symphonischer Chor Hamburg

Elbphilharmonie & Laeiszhalle Hamburg

SYMPHONISCHER CHOR HAMBURG

Hamburg

Germany

Laeiszhalle

Public

St. Matthew Passion

Approved

SYMPHONISCHER CHOR HAMBURG: Matthäus-Passion Bach,JS

The Hamburg Symphonic Choir, founded in 1886, is one of the most renowned and traditional choirs in Hamburg with around 140 active members. Actually more dedicated to the oratorio, the choir is led by the proven Bach expert Matthias Janz. After several other Bach performances in recent years, the choir is bringing Bach's great St Matthew Passion to the Laeiszhalle this year.

In 1727, the Leipzig notables demanded »no opera music«. The gentlemen had something in mind in the style of Georg Philipp Telemann: catchy, but by no means as disturbing, dissonant and complicated as Bach's St. John Passion, which they had seen premiered a year earlier in Leipzig. But Bach was used to arguments with councilors and authorities. His music was more important to him, and there were enough supporters in the Leipzig merchant community who had influence, spirit and enthusiasm. The result was a work about which Nikolaus Harnoncourt only said that there was no word for it – at most »perfection in everything«.

And surely Johann Sebastian Bach was also aware that he had created something great here. He revised the Passion several times and only translated his last version in fair copy nine years after the first performance: It is considered Bach's most beautiful and careful autograph, befitting the great music.

English

SYMPHONISCHER CHOR HAMBURG by Bach, J. S., From (2022/2022), Directed by Matthias Janser,, Laeiszhalle, Hamburg, Germany

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Ensemble

Program, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues