NTR Saturday Matinee: Pärt’s St. John Passion

online

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"After five seconds, you already know it's going to be a beautiful performance of Arvo Pärt's rarely heard St. John Passion. [...] Chief conductor Daniel Reuss conducted with precision and captured the atmosphere well. The St. John Passion largely consists of dialogue, and the soloists were outstanding, with Vox Clamantis as the fourfold Evangelist. Henning von Schulman (bass) spoke as Christ slowly and with great gravitas. Tenor and passion veteran Werner Güra shone as Pilate, who was assigned the most lyrical and surprising notes by Pärt. Amidst the sobriety, the delightful exclamations of the choir shone like stars."

NRC

online

programme

Arvo Pärt (*1935) Passio Domini nostri Jesu Christi secundum Joannem

performers

Cappella Amsterdam
Daniel Reuss conductor

Henning von Schulman bass, Jesus
Werner Güra tenor, Pilate
Vox Clamantis quartet, Quattro Evangelisti

Aisling Casey oboe
Jos Lammerse bassoon
Lisa Jacobs violin
Ella van Poucke cello
Laurens de Man organ

background

The live broadcast of the concert was on Saturday, March 27, at 2:00 PM on the NTR Saturday Matinee on NPO Radio 4.

On Saturday, March 27, our choir, under the direction of chief conductor Daniel Reuss, sang Arvo Pärt’s St. John Passion, his Passio Domini nostri Jesu Christi secundum Joannem from 1982.

Pärt’s strength lies in his simplicity and austerity. With a limited number of musicians, he manages to convey the story in an extraordinarily engaging way. Pärt began planning this composition in the late 1970s while still living in Estonia. According to the composer, the idea of writing a passion setting came to him during the Lenten season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffqwnZjGVgo

Calendar

Sat 27 Mar 2021 14:00 hour

Amsterdam / Het Concertgebouw

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