Come and enjoy a performance of *St Matthew Passion* as part of Holy Week at the Opera. This production is produced and directed by the Royal Opera and its orchestra.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements in classical music, Johann Sebastian Bach’s "St Matthew Passion" holds a unique place in the history of sacred repertoire. Most likely premiered on a Good Friday at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig during the 18th century, this monumental work continues to captivate audiences around the world.
Performed several times during Bach’s lifetime, the composition experienced a remarkable revival in the 19th century thanks to Felix Mendelssohn. His landmark performance in Berlin helped restore Bach’s reputation and re-established the composer as a central figure in European musical heritage.
Based on the Gospel of Matthew, whose account of the Passion is particularly detailed, the libretto written by Picander unfolds through twenty-eight poetic scenes. Bach enriches this narrative with Gospel recitatives, twelve harmonised chorales and additional hymns that enhance both the structure and spiritual depth of the work.
One of the defining features of the "St Matthew Passion" is its double choir. This innovative musical design heightens the dramatic impact by giving voice not only to the principal characters but also to the crowd, which becomes both witness and participant in the unfolding drama.
Through its scale and emotional richness, the work transcends the conventions of contemporary German Passion settings. Closer in spirit to a grand biblical oratorio, it alternates arias, recitatives and chorales to recount Christ’s final hours while expressing profound emotions such as devotion, compassion, sorrow and indignation.
A pinnacle of Baroque artistry, Bach’s "St Matthew Passion" combines spiritual depth with extraordinary dramatic power, creating an unforgettable musical experience.
Full programme to follow
Performed several times during Bach’s lifetime, the composition experienced a remarkable revival in the 19th century thanks to Felix Mendelssohn. His landmark performance in Berlin helped restore Bach’s reputation and re-established the composer as a central figure in European musical heritage.
Based on the Gospel of Matthew, whose account of the Passion is particularly detailed, the libretto written by Picander unfolds through twenty-eight poetic scenes. Bach enriches this narrative with Gospel recitatives, twelve harmonised chorales and additional hymns that enhance both the structure and spiritual depth of the work.
One of the defining features of the "St Matthew Passion" is its double choir. This innovative musical design heightens the dramatic impact by giving voice not only to the principal characters but also to the crowd, which becomes both witness and participant in the unfolding drama.
Through its scale and emotional richness, the work transcends the conventions of contemporary German Passion settings. Closer in spirit to a grand biblical oratorio, it alternates arias, recitatives and chorales to recount Christ’s final hours while expressing profound emotions such as devotion, compassion, sorrow and indignation.
A pinnacle of Baroque artistry, Bach’s "St Matthew Passion" combines spiritual depth with extraordinary dramatic power, creating an unforgettable musical experience.
Full programme to follow
