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Johannes-Passion

Johann Sebastian Bach 

The first of the great pieces Bach composed when he moved to Leipzig and one of the highlights of his choral catalogue.

Ensemble Les Surprises
Ensemble Les Surprises - Droits réservés

Eugénie Lefebvre | soprano
Paul Figuier | alto
Anders J. Dahlin | tenor (The Evangelist)
Paco Garcia | tenor
Nicolas Brooymans | bass (Jésus)
Etienne Bazola | bass (Pilate)

Louis-Noël Bestion de Camboulas | direction
Ensemble Les Surprises

Sung in German with French and English subtitles

A biblical story (the narration of the Evangelist, the words of Jesus, Pilate, Judas, and others), uplifting chorales and poetic texts. All framed by imposing choral porticoes. These are the ingredients of the Passions of J.-S. Bach. The one according to Johannes was first performed shortly after the master moved to Leipzig. What a shock the faithful of St Nicholas must have felt on the afternoon of Good Friday in 1724 – they, as the most conservative Lutherans, were wary of theatricality. A lady stood up and slammed the door: "Protect your children, Lord! It's like an opera." The town council, which had just hired this cantor "for lack of finding a better one" (read: Telemann or Graupner) must have been kicking itself. Not us...

PRODUCTION Jeanine Roze Production

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