St Matthew Passion
Bach's St Matthew Passion is one of the most beloved and moving masterpieces of classical music. Using the Gospel of Matthew as a basis, Bach describes the final days of Jesus, which are filled with his suffering and death. This well-known story has continued to deeply move people for many generations, not least because of its musical setting. The combination of music, text, and emotion touches the deepest chords of the soul. We feel that we, too, are the hypocritical high priests, the Roman soldiers, the enraged, incited crowd. And we, too, know that poignant sense of guilt, so beautifully rendered in the chorale “Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden….”. Choir, orchestra, and soloists bring this monumental composition to life with great passion. It is a valuable experience every time to participate in the St Matthew Passion , both as a musician and as a listener.
The Amsterdam Mixed Choir
The nearly 100-year-old Amsterdam Mixed Choir is an experienced amateur choir with approximately 130 members and can regularly be heard in the Concertgebouw. In addition to well-known oratorio works, the repertoire also includes works by lesser-known contemporary composers. For instance, several beautiful works by Eric Whitacre, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Karl Jenkins, among others, have already been performed. Splendid, lyrical, and melodic music. In this way, under the direction of conductor Paul Valk, this choir combines a passion for singing with musical quality spanning the ages.