Bach's St. John Passion: Stephansdom Vienna

О событии

Enjoy Bach's "St. John Passion" at the famous St. Stephen´s Cathedral (Stephansdom) in Vienna.

 

Although St. John Passion was composed a few years earlier than the St Matthew Passion and it is known to be Bach’s earliest piece of passion music, similar to the later pieces of Bach, it does not lack any ardency and intensity.

 

When the St John Passion was heard for the first time on Good Friday of the year 1724, the community experienced a  piece of music, extraordinary for its complexity, unique in its quality, expectations and religious profoundness. Could anyone have guessed that this piece of the new “Thomaskantor” Bach, having worked in this position for almost a year, would become one of the most important master pieces of the world of sacred music?

 

The two parts of the St. John's Passion, which are oriented on the standard theological structure of the passion’s report, strongly base on the text of the passion’s report of the gospel according to John. The text’s draft consist in both parts not only the biblical report but chorales too as well as freely texted choruses and arias. So Bach’s oratorio ends with Jesus last words: “It is done!”.

 

After a few performances during Bach’s lifetime the St Johns Passion, like his complete work, was forgotten. In the year 1834, four years after the famous performance of the St Matthews passion under the direction of Felix Mendelssohn‐Bartholdy, it was successfully performed again.

 Kammerchor Straubing
Niederbayerisches Kammerorchester
Stefan Frank, Conductor



Please note:
The stage is not directly visible from seats in Category 4 and 5. The concert presenter recommend Categories 1‐3 for the best view.