Early Music Vancouver (EMV) is proud to present the headline event of its 2017 Vancouver Bach Festival: St. John Passion on August 11, 7:30pm at the Chan Centre for Performing Arts. Esteemed conductor Alexander Weimann leads this performance, which will feature a cast of internationally recognized Bach vocal specialists, joined by the Vancouver Cantata Singers and the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, for a dramatic reading of one of the greatest works in the classical repertoire.
The St. John Passion was written during Bach's first year as director of music at the famed Thomasschule in Leipzig. It was an opportunity for him to apply his signature brilliance to the tradition of composing oratorios to tell the Passion story. Most of the text was taken from Chapters 18 and 19 of the Gospel of John in Martin Luther’s testament of the Bible, as well as from poetry by Barthold Heinrich Brockes (1680-1747).
EMV’s highly anticipated presentation of St. John Passion will feature several internationally recognized Bach vocal specialists who are all core members of the Swiss ensemble Gli Angeli Genève. Additionally, English tenor, Thomas Hobbs, one of the leading Bach evangelists of our time, will take the part of the Narrator. The Vancouver Cantata Singers, who are celebrating their 60th season this year under the direction of Artistic Director Paula Kremer, will also add their vocal talents to this enthralling performance.
The all-star vocalists will be backed by Vancouver’s own Juno-nominated Pacific Baroque Orchestra (PBO), led under the baton of acclaimed Music Director Alexander Weimann.
Early Music Vancouver Presents: St. John Passion
Date: Friday, August 11 at 7:30pm
(Pre-Concert Talk at 6:45pm with Matthew White and Alexander Weimann)
Tickets: From $18
Address: Chan Shun Concert Hall, Chan Centre for Performing Arts, 6265 Crescent Rd., Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1
Box Office: earlymusic.bc.ca or 604.822.2697