Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Bach's St Matthew Passion

Bach’s St Matthew Passion stands not only as one of the high points of Bach’s sacred music, but has been hailed as one of ‘the greatest artistic monuments of mankind’.

In 2020, Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio 3 is bringing together musical greats, from the past and the present, in one extraordinary Proms season. Radio 3 is broadcasting the best of four decades of unmissable Proms concerts.

Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Proms: Phillipe Herreweghe’s expressive but fleet-footed Bach won praise at his Proms debut in 1996. Two years later, in this highlight from the archives, he turned to one of the peaks of Bach’s output: the telling of Matthew’s version of the Passion with the narration of Christ’s mission, his political fates, and our response in the meditative music of arias, all mingled to create one of the most original music dramas of any age. Ian Bostridge, then near the start of his career sings the role of the Evangelist.

Presented by Petroc Trelawny who between Parts 1 and 2 talks to Andreas Scholl about working with Herreweghe, and his approach to singing the music of JS Bach.

Bach: St Matthew Passion

Ian Bostridge (Evangelist)
Sibylla Rubens (soprano)
Andreas Scholl (counter-tenor)
Werner Güra (tenor)
Dietrich Henschel (bass)
Elisabeth Hermans (soprano)
Susan Hamilton (soprano)
Franz-Josef Selig (bass)
Frits Vanhule (bass)
Dominik Wörner (bass)
Schola Cantorum Cantate Domino
Chorus and Orchestra of Collegium Vocale Ghent

(From the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Proms 1998, 23 August)

2 hours, 59 minutes

Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    St Matthew Passion

    Singer: Ian Bostridge. Singer: Andreas Scholl. Singer: Werner Güra. Singer: Sibylla Rubens. Singer: Franz-Josef Selig. Singer: Dietrich Henschel. Singer: Elisabeth Hermans. Singer: Susan Hamilton. Singer: Frits Vanhulle. Singer: Dominik Wörner. Conductor: Philippe Herreweghe. Choir: Collegium Vocale Gent. Orchestra: Schola Cantorum Cantate Domino.

Broadcast

  • Sun 23 Aug 2020 21:00

The home of classical music and the Proms on the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú

Every Proms concert is broadcast live on Radio 3 - don't miss a single one.