In 1724, for his first Easter in charge of music in Leipzig, Bach presented a new work for the Good Friday liturgy: the St John Passion. Dramatic choruses place us at the heart of the story, while poignant solo arias and achingly beautiful orchestration explore the characters’ emotional depth – and offer us space to pause and reflect.
Three centuries after that first performance, it is a masterpiece that still speaks to us profoundly, regardless of belief.
We get closer still to the Good Friday traditions of Bach’s time with chorale preludes, motets, readings and communal hymns. Presented by Ex Cathedra.
