Powerful, intense, and contemplative by turns, St John Passion tells the story of Christ’s suffering and crucifixion. The work is operatic in scope, and an international cast of soloists join the orchestra and choir to share Bach’s profound reflection. Renowned tenor James Gilchrist returns in the role of Evangelist, joined by soprano Joanne Lunn, with a "voice like spun gold" (Financial Times); Toronto countertenor Nicholas Burns, whose “thrilling voice caresses the ear with its velvet” (Süddeutsche Zeitung) and baritone Peter Harvey, whose "mellow, consoling tone, superb phrasing and fluency with taxing melodic lines are surely what Bach would have wanted" (Musicweb). Bach's monumental oratorio is directed by “deeply perceptive and thrilling” (Gramophone) keyboard artist Kristian Bezuidenhout.
Robert Schumann infamously said of Bach, “We are all bunglers compared to him.” Bach’s passions are pioneering and extraordinary works that well-deserve their long held reverence.