The St. Matthew Passion

An opus metaphysicum of western culture, the St. Matthew Passion constitutes an extreme dramatic and musical experience, in which the art of the Cantor of Leipzig attains the summit of harmonic density and spiritual depth.

There is no superlative too strong to qualify this shattering drama of the Passion, whose dramatic resources rival those of any opera, and by which Bach became, in the words of

André Suarès, the “Nightingale of the Cross”. Divided into two great parts, the recitative of the last works of the Christ sung by the Evangelist is punctuated by grand chorales (including several from Luther) and vast choral sections (including the unforgettable Overture), and wrenching Arias, including the famous “Erbame dich, mein Gott”, evoking the tears of St. Peter after the three denials.

Cappella Mediterranea
Dijon Opera Chorus & Namur Chambre Choir
Direction Leonardo García Alarcón
Soprano Ana Quintans
Mezzo-soprano Marianne Beate Kielland
Ténor (the evangelist) Valerio Contaldo
Ténor (air) Fabio Trümpy
Basses Thomas Bauer & NN

Johann Sebastian Bach
La Passion selon Saint-Matthieu, BWV 244