Johann Sebastian Bach’s St John Passion opens the International Bachfest Hamburg’s fifth anniversary season – with a work that unites the power of the written word with music that moves the heart directly. »In the beginning was the Word«, writes the Evangelist John, placing the living and creative power of language at the heart of his message.
The dramatic force and expressive musical language of the Passion did not readily conform to the expectations placed on the Thomaskantor’s church music. In Leipzig, there were reservations about music that struck some of Bach’s contemporaries as too »operatic«. And indeed, Bach’s St John Passion, like the St Matthew Passion that followed it, possesses a dramatic and theatrical force that goes far beyond a purely musical interpretation of the biblical text.
With their characters, dialogues, choruses, arias and recitatives, they develop a kind of church opera: music theatre within a liturgical setting, not as entertainment, but as an immediate re-enactment of the Passion story. This is precisely where much of their enduring fascination lies: Bach fulfils the liturgical purpose while at the same time expanding the expressive possibilities of church music to the very limits of Baroque music theatre.
A distinguished ensemble comes together for this special opening concert, with Klaus Mertens as Christ, the acclaimed Ensemble Reflektor and the CPE.Bach.Chor.Hamburg, hosted by its artistic director Hansjörg Albrecht.
PERFORMERS
Carl-Philipp-Emanuel-Bach-Chor Hamburg choir
ensemble reflektor ensemble
Marie-Sophie Pollak soprano
Sarah Romberger alto
TobiasHunger tenor
Fabio Trümpy tenor
Klaus Mertens bass
Krešimir Stražanac bass
Hansjörg Albrecht harpsichord and director
PROGRAM
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johannes-Passion, BWV 245
