Dunedin Consort: John Passion

Bach’s ‘little Passion’, as Schumann famously called it, was unveiled to the Leipzig congregation on Good Friday 1724, 300 years ago almost to the day. It was Bach’s first Passion, and although more slender than the Matthew that would follow three years later, it remains his first piece of grand storytelling. While the Matthew Passion is a more monumental, contemplative piece, the John is arguably more dramatic, placing greater emphasis on the tensions and humanity at the heart of the passion story. Schumann called it ‘much bolder, more powerful, more poetic that the one from Matthew’s Gospel’, and its message is ultimately more uplifting. It is a work of hope and promise that looks forward to the prospect of a glorious resurrection, directed here by Dunedin Consort’s Associate Director, Nicholas Mulroy, in his role as the Evangelist.

Programme

Johann Sebastian Bach | John Passion (BWV 244)

Artists

Nicholas Mulroy | Director & Evangelist

Anna Dennis | Soprano

Beth Taylor | Mezzo-soprano

Stephan Loges | Christus

Pre-concert talk with Nicholas Mulroy, 6.30pm.

Presented by Dunedin Consort

GRAMOPHONE: “Naturalness and emotional honesty are what emerge from this tight-knit and perfectly paced ensemble Passion”