Edinburgh Festival Chorus revives Mendelssohn's arrangement of Johann Sebastian Bach’s sublime piece about Christ's last days on earth before his resurrection.
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Ryan Wigglesworth Conductor
Edinburgh Festival Chorus
James Grossmith Chorus Director
RSNO Youth Chorus
Patrick Barrett Chorus Director
Elizabeth Watts Soprano
Dame Sarah Connolly Alto
Laurence Kilsby Tenor
James Atkinson Bass
Ed Lyon Evangelist
Neal Davies Christus
Bach arr. Mendelssohn St Matthew Passion (1841 Leipzig version)
The young Felix Mendelssohn transformed Johann Sebastian Bach’s majestic St Matthew Passion for modern orchestra. His groundbreaking performances of his impassioned arrangement in Berlin (1829) and Leipzig (1841 – the version heard in this concert) changed the course of music history. Without these, the great Bach revival might never have happened.
Mendelssohn’s version foregrounds the urgent narrative and potent emotions of the Passion story, illustrating Christ’s capture, trial and crucifixion.
Join the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, their Chief Conductor Ryan Wigglesworth, the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and six soloists – including ‘star evangelist’ (The Arts Desk) Ed Lyon – as they rekindle an epoch-defining event.