Ex Cathedra: Bach St John Passion

About this event

Bach’s St John Passion draws us into the drama of Christ’s last days with utterly transfixing music. The pulsating opening chorus sets the mood. We are compelled to share the anger of the mob, to empathize with Pilate, and to feel the anguish of the solo arias. Poignancy is heightened by the sounds of the period instruments - not least in the tender agony of ‘Es ist vollbracht’ (It is finished).

This concert recreates elements of the Good Friday liturgy as Bach knew it, including the Jacob Handl motet Bach performed. There is a stunning motet commissioned by Ex Cathedra from Alec Roth, chorale preludes and organ improvisations. You are invited to join us from the comfort of your home to sing along with the hymns.

This concert will be sung in German, with English and German subtitles.

Ex Cathedra would like to thank the Continuo Foundation and the UK government’s Culture Recovery Fund for supporting this concert.

Ex Cathedra is a leading UK choir and Early Music ensemble with a repertoire that reaches from the 12th to the 21st centuries. Under founder and artistic director Jeffrey Skidmore, it has developed an international reputation for its performances of Early Music, including from the Latin American and French Baroque. It is proud of its reputation for championing new music, from Stockhausen at the BBC Proms to commissions from James MacMillan, Sally Beamish, Roxanna Panufnik, Liz Dilnot Johnson and several major works from Alec Roth.

Your ticket purchase will directly support the participating artists through IDAGIO’s Fair Artist Payout Model: IDAGIO pays 80% of the net revenue directly to the performers.

The cost of presenting this concert will exceed expected ticket sales and fundraised income. If you are able to make a donation to Ex Cathedra to top up the value of your ticket it will be of tremendous help and greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Stream available to watch until June 6, 2021.

Download the programme booklet here (PDF) - includes the hymns so you have the option to join in.

Programme

• 1. Concert – approx. 150 min programme

Repertoire

1. 1. Alec Roth, Verlass uns nicht

2. 2. J.S. Bach, St John Passion BMV 245

3. 3. Jacob Handl, Ecce quomodo moritur justus

Bradley Smith, Evangelist

Themba Mvula, Jesus

Lawrence White, Pilate

Margaret Lingas, soprano

Imogen Russell, soprano

Martha McLorinan, alto

Paul Bentley-Angell, tenor

James Robinson, tenor

This performance was filmed at Symphony Hall, Birmingham on Saturday 24 April, 2021.