Talk Bach e-newsletter

Bach Choir sings Bach

Bruce Pullan's Farewell Season continues:

Bruce Pullan has chosen a performance of Bach's St. John Passion as his last but one concert as Music Director of the Vancouver Bach Choir. Pullan writes: "We are named after Johann Sebastian Bach and I am glad that in my last year we will be performing my favourite work by that great composer, the St. John Passion. This dramatic, emotional re-telling of the Passion story shows us the almost operatic side of Bach's genius and is, for me, a very special piece and, I think, the best of him."

The St. John Passion had its first performance on Good Friday 1724 in Leipzig. Commentators have pointed out that the St. John Gospel is "raw and emotionally unbridled". This is reflected in Bach's music and the structure of the Passion - arias, sung by the soloists, chorales and choruses sung by the choir and narrative recitatives sung by the Evangelist and Christus.

On March 27th 2010 at 8pm in the Orpheum, the Bach Choir will be joined by the Vancouver Symphony and 5 superb soloists. Tenor Benjamin Butterfield sings the role of the Evangelist.  Well known both here and abroad for his beautiful voice, Ben is no stranger to Vancouver audiences and the choir is delighted to have him as part of this special concert. Brilliant newcomer, Jeremy Bowes, baritone, takes the role of Christus. A former student of Bruce Pullan, Jeremy is finishing his studies at Yale and is already much in demand both in North America and Europe. The other soloists are rising stars and former students of Bruce Pullan, Debi Wong, mezzo, also finishing her training at Yale; Michael Robert Broder, baritone; and Jane (Corrall) Long.

TICKETS
($25-$45, Student and Senior's Discount)
Ticketmaster  604.280.3311  vancouverbachhoir.com

The Passion Image

The stunning image we are using for the posters and Talk Bach is a wooden figure of Christ Crucified by Juan Martinez Montanes, created in 1603 in wood, gessoed, polychromed and gilded. It stands in the sacristy of Seville Cathedral.