St Matthew Passion (2019)

Abstract

Readings of the Passion story were integral to Holy Week liturgies from the initial centuries of the Christian era. By the time of Bach’s predecessor Heinrich Schütz (1585–1672), through-composed recitatives accompanied by the basso-continuo instruments were essential to the form. The recitatives in Bach’s oratorio-passions, such as those found within this performance of the Matthäus-Passion, took on operatic characteristics of the Italian style including harmonic and melodic expressiveness intended to reflect the meaning of the text.

The current research offers an instructive reading of Bach’s vocal writing within the Evangelist or narrator’s role. Such practical applications consider the scope for affective delivery of sacred text through subtle vocal nuances and expressive melodic gestures in performance. The research documented through this performance concert performance of Bach’s Matthäus-Passion, one of the composer’s most well-known vocal works was performed by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and St George’s Cathedral Consort at Perth Concert Hall on 16 April 2019 for an audience of approximately 1700 patrons. The performance was streamed across the globe on World Concert Hall, broadcast live to air on ABC Classic FM and reviewed in high impact publications including The Australian, Limelight