Koor & Orkest Collegium Vocale Gent . Philippe Herreweghe

For the last twenty years, Bach and the Collegium Vocale, with Philippe Herreweghe, have been our guests in the Easter Week. If you were present at one of the performances, you will know exactly why so many people have booked their seats ahead of time. Once again, this year deSingel provides the setting for St John's Passion, an absolute pinnacle in the history of western music up to 1724. By 1724, Bach had occupied the position of Thomas cantor in Leipzig for about a year. It was a position which, besides the usual musical obligations, had some rather tiresome administrative and educational duties too. In spite of these drawbacks, during this period Bach wrote his monuments for eternity: the St John's and St Matthew's Passions. Bach takes liberties with the biblical texts in his passions. He embroiders and comments with contemplative texts. The composition almost becomes madrigal in style. The mystical undertone and the distinctly spoken dramatic judgement scenes distinguish St. John' s Passion from St Matthew's Passion, which was written in 1729. This is more narrative and on occasion even lyrical. More than in other works, this musical passion story of St. John conveys Bach's awareness of death. The work can only be understood on the basis of his strong religiosity, solid Lutheranism, and his life and death in the name of God.