6:45pm-10:00pm on Friday 8 March
Times shown are in GMT (UTC +0) up to the 26th March. For events on or after 27th March times are in BST (UTC +1).
Girton College, The Great Hall, Huntingdon Road, CB3 0JG
2024 marks the 300th anniversary of the first performance of Bach’s towering masterpiece, the St John Passion which debuted on Good Friday in 1724 in Leipzig. Still revered today, it remains among the composer’s most cherished works.
This powerful oratorio intertwines the agony of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples’ confusion, and the crowd’s tumultuous emotions, inviting the audience to immerse themselves in the drama through traditional German hymns. Bach’s St John Passion is a testament to his genius, infusing vivid narratives from the Gospel of John with arias, chorales, and expressive musicality. The work, originally structured to complement a sermon, captures the essence of Christ’s passion.
Renowned tenor Nicholas Mulroy, acclaimed for his portrayal of the celebrated Evangelist, leads a stellar ensemble, including talented student singers from the Cambridge University Chamber Choir. Professor Margaret Faultless, a distinguished violinist, leads a collaboration between members of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment experience scheme, playing side-by-side with the Cambridge University Collegium Musicum.
The performance in the Great Hall at Girton College, Cambridge will be in an historically informed immersive experience. Performed in the round, the concert is designed to bring the audience into direct contact with the bodily enactment of this affective journey.
Pre-concert talk – Professor Bettina Varwig
Join us for an insightful pre-concert talk by Professor Bettina Varwig, a distinguished figure in music and cultural history at the Faculty of Music. With a wealth of expertise in early modern music within the German-speaking lands, Professor Varwig’s engaging discussion promises an enriching exploration into the context and significance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s monumental St John Passion.
During this pre-concert talk, Professor Varwig will illuminate the enduring legacy and significance of Bach’s St John Passion, a piece that encapsulates the agony, emotion, and depth of the Good Friday narrative. Professor Varwig’s insights will offer a deeper appreciation and understanding of the profound musical and historical layers embedded within this iconic work.
Pre-concert talk – 6.45pm.
Concert 8pm – 10pm
Please follow this link to book:
https://www.saffronhall.com/choose-seats?instance=175641ALDJDLTBSRPBGGQV...
