The Adelaide Chamber Singers (ACS) 2012 season opens with two performances for the 2012 Adelaide Festival of one of the greatest aural works of Western Civilisation - J S Bach’s Johannes Passion (St John Passion) - St John’s account of Christ’s trial and execution was an innovative and dramatic portrayal of Christ’s final hours.
For these performances ACS will be joined for the first time by the Sydney Concert Choir. The choirs will also be augmented by some of Australia’s Bach soloists including Tenor Robert McFarlane who will perform the role of Evangelist and Soprano Greta Bradman and Mezzo-Soprano Sally-Anne Russell. Bass-Baritone Douglas McNicol will perform the role of Christus and well-known Bass-Baritone soloist Craig Everingham takes on the role of Pilatus. The ensemble will be led by highly respected violinist Lucinda Moon.
Two performances of the St John Passion, conducted by ACS founder Carl Crossin OAM will be held on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 March at 8pm in the Adelaide Town Hall. The performances will be preceded with a talk by John Polglase.
“What an exciting prospect to see two of Australia’s finest choirs together for the first time. It will be a performance of finesse, superb tuning and ensemble, on a large scale with over 50 singers from The Combined choirs,” said Sydney Chamber Choir’s Musical Director, Paul Stanhope.
According to press notes, Bach composed the St John Passion during the first winter he was responsible for music at St Thomas Church in Leipzig. It is a dramatic depiction of the Passion, as told in the Gospel of John, and brings to life the story of Christ's arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, his trial, crucifixion and entombment. A gripping and ferocious narrative, expressed in music that is by turns majestic, savage and radiant. An intimate and searing composition, this work if often described as more expressive, extravagant and at times unbridled, compared with the later St Matthew Passion. It is not regularly performed in Australia, due to the forces involved and its musical complexity.
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