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Photo Credit: Stefania Galluccio @mystoo
261 - 4/3/2017 6:32:04 PM  

Bach’s St. John Passion Sat Apr 1

Guelph Chamber Choir presents St. John Passion, Bach’s dramatic and stirring presentation of St. John’s vision of the Crucifixion

The Guelph Chamber Choir is pleased to present Bach’s St. John Passion on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 7:30 pm at the River Run Centre, accompanied by Musica Viva Orchestra, featuring many of Canada’s finest musicians performing on period instruments.

A work of impassioned drama, aesthetic refinement and deep religious sentiment, the St. John Passion moves beyond compositional brilliance.  Bach’s job in Leipzig was to be a “musical preacher” for the city’s Lutheran churches. His music spoke directly to the minds and hearts of his people.  Conductor Gerald Neufeld noted, “Debate over negative depictions of “the Jews” in this work, and indeed in John’s gospel, continues.  However, what we see in John’s Passion Story is a depiction of the people that opposed Jesus’ teachings rather than those who espoused him merely a week earlier as he rode triumphantly into Jerusalem.  Perhaps this dramatic work speaks to the societal divisions in our own time and the consequences of the animosities they create between different factions and how they relate to each other.”
 
Before the concert at 6:30 pm, on stage at the River Run Centre, retired United Church minister John Buttars will present a PodiumTalk entitled Turmoil and Destruction: an exploration of the historical context of St. John’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Some of Canada’s finest soloists join the choir and orchestra to present this monumental work.  Local soprano and former choir section lead Sheila Dietrich returns with her effortless vocal technique and style, perfectly suited for Bach’s musical nuances.  Canadian mezzo-soprano Jennifer Enns Modolo delights audiences across the country with her clear, unaffected voice and deeply meaningful singing.  We are pleased to present tenor James McLean as the Evangelist, who will narrate the story with his noble tenor voice.  He has been celebrated around the world for his interpretation of this work.  Bass baritone Daniel Lichti is firmly established as one of Canada’s most distinguished singers. He has recently celebrated 40 years on the international stage and is noted as “a dramatic singer of conviction, passion, tenderness, pathos, and power with a voice that seems coated with pure silk.”  Current baritone section lead Gordon Burnett will sing the roles of both Pilate and Peter.

Single tickets for the Saturday evening performance of Bach’s St. John Passion at the River Run Centre are now available for only $35 each or 4 for $120. We encourage young adults to attend with $10 tickets for students and those under 30, and only $5 for youth with eyeGO.

Tickets are available from choir or board members, through the River Run Centre by calling 519-763-3000 or online directly at http://riverrun.ca/whats-on/gcc-st-john-passion
To discover more, please visit our website at www.guelphchamberchoir.ca .

Special thanks to our soloist sponsor, Stantec.


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