Bach St John Passion 8 pm Good Friday 21 March, 2008

J.S. Bach St John Passion

J.S. Bach’s St John Passion was performed at 8 pm on Good Friday, March 21, in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Written for Good Friday in 1723, the Passion is a compact and intensely dramatic setting of St John’s description of Christ’s last hours.

A special guest this year was Paul Whelan, singing as Jesus, a role he premiered in the English National Opera staged version. He sang Jesus in the Royal Festival Hall for the Bach Choir’s St Matthew Passion, and in July, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis in the Sydney Opera House during the papal visit. Other soloists were Sue Densem, Ruth Reid, Wally Enright, Howard Harvey and Chris Whelan, with John Murray as the Evangelist. The orchestra was led by David Williams, with Ellen Doyle, cello, and Grant Bartley, harpsichord, and the performance was directed by Don Whelan.

On Easter Sunday morning, the liturgy of the 10.30 a.m. Solemn Mass was supported by Handel’s Worthy Is The Lamb & Amen chorus, with Mozart’s Coronation Mass, and Alleluia (from Exultate Jubilate) featuring American soprano Madeline Bender.