At The Bach Choir, we’ve been singing the St Matthew Passion annually for nearly a century. There are many talking points when it comes to the piece – a masterpiece like this one will inevitably go on to withstand performances in a range of languages, styles, venues and stagings. Below, we’ve put together some of the other major choices that you can make when it comes to experiencing the St Matthew Passion live – ultimately only you can choose which St Matthew Passion is right for you!
English or German?
Our tradition is focused around the English version of the work, rather than Bach’s native German. The piece was first translated into English in 1854, and we sing the Neil Jenkins translation.
What is it about the English version that makes it so special? We decided to ask our Musical Director, David Hill, why we sing this masterpiece in English….
Matinee or evening?
The St Matthew Passion is around 2 hours and 45 minutes long, like many operas or films. An evening performance in London will potentially mean a journey home late at night – not ideal!
That’s why we hold our annual performance from 11am, so you don’t have to head home in the dark. It’s also enhanced by a two-hour lunch break, so you can make a day of it and enjoy lunch or a walk on the Southbank before returning for the dramatic finale. There’s so much you can do with this break – you can find some suggestions for how to enjoy it here.
Image by Jake Philip Davis
The venue – church or concert hall?
The piece follows the story of Christ. Resultantly, it carries a special meaning to Christian audiences – but in reality, all faiths can draw a huge amount of spiritual meaning from it. Bach’s musical framing of this emotional story is so extraordinary that anyone can be drawn in, even those who are just listening for the melodies.
There are plenty of performances in churches, but we hold ours at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, a venue which sounds fantastic and attracts a diverse audience featuring many religions.
The Bach Choir’s St Matthew Passion – April 6 2025
If our St Matthew Passion sounds like the right performance for you, you’re in luck – it’s not long now until we’ll take to the stage at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall with London Youth Choirs, Florilegium and six fantastic soloists (who you can find out more about here). Book your tickets to experience the passion here.