It was 11 April 1727 when Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. Matthew Passion was performed for the first time in the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, introduced by the solemn and magnificent prologue for double choir “Kommt, ihr Töchter” (come, daughters). A monumental work, composed for soloists, double choir and double orchestra, a masterpiece of music of all time. Yet Bach’s composition, after that first performance, fell into oblivion. A century later, on 11 March 1829, thanks also to the initiative of Felix Mendelssohn, the Passion was performed in Berlin and since then everyone has recognized its greatness.
The musical tale of the Passion and death of Jesus Christ has thus become one of the classic events of Holy Week. Especially in Germany and generally in the Protestant world. Last Palm Sunday, for example, in Berlin alone, you could choose between two performances of the St. Matthew Passion and one performance of the St. John Passion (another Bach masterpiece) performed in three different evangelical churches. The performance of these masterpieces in Italy remains rarer, so do not miss the appointment on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 April at 8pm, and Saturday 4 April at 6pm in the Sala Santa Cecilia (Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone, in Rome) with the performance of the Passion according to Matthew BWV 244 by the Orchestra, the Choir and the Children’s Choir of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. He will conduct Bach’s masterpiece Riccardo Minasiwho will lead a prestigious cast of soloists: Cody Quattlebaum (Jesus), the tenor James Gilchrist (in the crucial and challenging role of the Evangelist), Jane Archibald, Sophie Rennert and Edwin Crossley-Mercer. With them, the Cecilian teams instructed by Andrea Secchi and the children’s voices directed by Claudia Morelli.
The Italian conductor Riccardo Minasi is currently Principal Guest Conductor of the Ensemble Resonanz, resident orchestra at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, and Artistic Director of the La Scintilla Orchestra at the Zurich Opera, roles he has held since 2022.
