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Matthäus-Passion

Johann Sebastian Bach 

Matthäus-Passion, or the pinnacle of Bach's choral art directed and sung by Mark Padmore.

Mark Padmore
Mark Padmore © Marco Borggreve

Mary Bevan | soprano
Paula Murrihy | mezzo-soprano
Mark Padmore | tenor
Samuel Hasselhorn | baritone 
Matthew Brook | bass

Mark Padmore | direction
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Choir of the Age of Enlightenment

Sung in Germanwith French and English subtitles

It was at the beginning of the 18th century that it became general practice in Germany to give a large choral work based on the Passion of Christ every Good Friday. In the few years between the Johannes-Passion (1723-24) and the Matthäus-Passion (1727), Bach constantly enriched his musical experience and thus brought many innovations to his second great Passion. He maximized the sonic breadth of the work (introduction of a third chorus) and reinforced the variety of the recitative. In a way, this masterpiece by Bach closes the very long list of Passions that the history of music is proud of. Those to come afterwards will, with rare exceptions, no longer be Passions in the liturgical sense where Bach heard it and paved the way for the oratorio form.

PRODUCTION Théâtre des Champs-Elysées

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