Two Passions have been scheduled for this year’s Three Choirs Festival, Bach’s St. John Passion and the other by the little-known composer, Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel, called Die leidende und am Creutz sterbende Liebe Jesu. In the morning we attended a most interesting lecture by Dr. Paul Ellison titled “A Passion to Rival Bach’s?” I was… Read More In the presence of greatness
You’ll never believe it, but our tradition of inviting all of our 35th floor neighbors to a holiday party began with the St. John Passion in 2004. Carl Crosier always liked to give a party after a big performance, and even though we had just moved into our building and didn’t have any area carpets… Read More It started with the St. John Passion
On the 7+ hour flight on Lufthanza from Frankfurt to Boston, I flipped through the available entertainment channels and was pleasantly surprised to find a video of Bach’s St. John Passion performance by the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Simon Rattle. What caught my eye in the opening credits was “staging by Peter Sellars,” and I… Read More Dramatic St. John Passion
Last week’s soloists for Bach’s St. Matthew Passion were not only the same soloists for Saturday’s St. John Passion, they were the chorus too! That meant there were only two singers per part, and the orchestra outnumbered the chorus. Pacific Music Works’ presentation of the St. John Passion was held in the smaller Nordstrom Recital… Read More St. John Passion
No, this time we’re not getting ready to perform Bach, this week we are getting ready to listen to Bach. Carl and I are in the Pacific Northwest visiting family and friends and have been listening to Gustav Leonhardt‘s recording of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion while we have been driving around in the car. On… Read More Getting ready for Bach
One of the most moving and solemn services of the entire year happens on Good Friday and begins with a silent procession continued from the end of the Maundy Thursday liturgy. It is the one service for which the choir wears only cassocks, no cottas. Nearly the entire service is sung, and all a cappella… Read More A moving Good Friday