A Gripping Performance of Bach's St John Passion

In a remarkable concert, the Choir of New College, Oxford, joined forces with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and conductor Edward Higginbotham to deliver a thrilling rendition of Bach's St John Passion. The performance was marked by a 'serious concern' at the start due to the dynamic level of the choir being swamped by the orchestra, but this issue was largely overcome as the work progressed. The New College singers impressed with their precision, intonation, and commitment, particularly in their handling of the demanding score, which features fewer breaks for solos than Bach's St Matthew setting.

Key Takeaways:

• The Choir of New College, Oxford, showcased their musicality and precision in a thrilling performance of Bach's St John Passion, led by conductor Edward Higginbotham and the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
• The choir faced an initial issue with dynamic level being swamped by the orchestra, but this concern was largely alleviated as the work progressed.
• The New College singers demonstrated an impressive ability to adapt to the demands of the St John Passion, which features fewer breaks for solos than Bach's St Matthew setting.
• The choir's intonation and diction were rarely faulted, and their blending of parts and overall "sound" was admirable.
• Tenor Philip Cave impressed as the evangelist, providing a poised and shapely performance, while soloists Fergus McLusky, Andrew Tusa, and John Bernays gave confident and resonant readings of their arias.
• The Australian Chamber Orchestra delivered a faultless performance, playing the intricate score with precision and care.

Statistics:

• The St John Passion is a work of approximately two hours in length.
• The choir comprised 14 singers, including 4 altos, 4 tenors, 6 basses, and 6 boy sopranos.
• The Australian Chamber Orchestra began the evening with a high level of intensity, making a compelling case against the New College singers.
• The choir's dynamic level improved significantly throughout the performance, with a particularly strong showing in the penultimate "Ruht wuhl" movement.
• The entire performance, including instrumental solos and choir, lasted approximately two and a half hours.

Sources:

• "Bach's St John Passion: A Gripping Performance" by CLIVE O'CONNELL
• No additional sources were cited in the provided text.