ᴘɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴄʀᴇᴅɪᴛ: ᴛʀᴇᴠᴏʀ ꜱᴍɪᴛʜ

On Sunday 10th March we were privileged to host David Stancliffe and the musicians of the Bishop's Consort and hear Bach's St. Matthew Passion in its intimate 1736 form, sung in German and accompanied on period instruments. Following the parallel texts in German and English while listening to the players and singers produced a surprisingly powerful, even at times harrowing effect. A glitch in the heating meant that the orchestra had to re-tune once or twice, but even that made its contribution: when the narrator sang Ah Golgotha, unhappy Golgotha! The Lord of majesty must scornfully perish here as the instruments gently drifted off-key, the effect was electrifying. This was a remarkable way to prepare to celebrate Easter.

The principal soloists were Beth Yates, Owen Ravden, Chris Why and Ben Kazez, and the Bishop's Consort was led by Helen Roche and Toby Hawks.