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St. John Passion in Chicago

St. John Passion, BWV 245
Johann Sebastian Bach
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
8:00 p.m.

John NELSON, conductor
Nicholas PHAN, Evangelist
Stephen MORSCHECK, Jesus
Kendra COLTON, soprano
Meredith ARWADY, contralto
Marc MOLOMOT, tenor
Matthew BROOK, bass
CHICAGO BACH Choir and Orchestra
Donald NALLY, chorus master

Saint Vincent de Paul Church
1010 W. Webster Avenue, Chicago

 

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John Nelson conducting the
Chicago Bach Choir and Orchestra
(Photo: Antony Caldaroni)

During any given week in the Chicago area, there are more classical music events available than one could possibly attend.

What makes one concert in April different?

It’s a Paris tradition come to Chicago . . .
It’s a spiritual message that touches people deeply. . .
It’s a musical gift that keeps growing . . .

It’s the Chicago Bach Project, returning to Chicago in April 2012 for its second annual presentation.

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John Nelson
(Photo: David Zaugh)

For over a decade at Notre Dame Cathedral, Soli Deo Gloria’s Artistic Director, John Nelson, conducted an annual concert highlighting the sacred masterworks of Bachthe St. Matthew Passion, St. John Passion and Mass in B Minor—in a rotating cycle each year during the Lenten season. This annual event became a cultural and spiritual highpoint in the life of Paris and won the support of the city’s mayor, the country’s Minister of Culture, and Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger. Some of the performances were filmed, broadcast on European television or released worldwide on DVD to critical acclaim.

“I’ve seen singers who are speechless after the emotion of singing this music, and audiences who came year after year to experience something sublime not easily found elsewhere.”—John Nelson

It had long been a dream of Maestro Nelson and the U.S. organization he co-founded, Soli Deo Gloria, to bring the same Bach cycle to Chicago audiences in a very special way—during Holy Week, in a sacred space. In 2011, Soli Deo Gloria successfully launched the Chicago Bach Project with a performance of the St. Matthew Passion, which was received with great acclaim.

“One of the Top 10 Performances of 2011.”
—Lawrence Johnson, Chicago Classical Review

“A formidable artistic success and a moving experience for Holy Week.”
—Mark Ketterson, Concerto Net

“The Chicago Bach Project promises to be a highlight of the city’s musical landscape for years to come.”
—Myron Silberstein, Clef Notes: Chicagoland Journal for the Arts

“A musical and spiritual experience I will never forget.”

"A spectacular concert—deeply moving and meaningful, brilliantly conducted and performed.”

“Stirred our souls and lifted our hearts!”
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Chicago Bach Orchestra
(Photo: Charles Osgood)

On Wednesday, April 4, 2012, John Nelson returns to conduct Bach’s dramatic St. John Passion with a distinguished roster of soloists and the Chicago Bach Choir & Orchestra in the second annual Chicago Bach Project concert.

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St. Vincent de Paul altar

Aesthetically and spiritually, there is a profound sense of appropriateness in the venue for the Chicago Bach Project, St. Vincent de Paul Church in Lincoln Park. With its soaring ceilings, expansive breadth and depth, original works of sacred art, and dynamic history, St. Vincent de Paul truly enhances the spiritual richness of the music.

Beyond the goal of sharing the spiritual power of this great music, one of the goals of the Chicago Bach Project is to share these Bach masterpieces with a broad population, not just to the musical elite. Coordinating with schools of music and social organizations, the Chicago Bach Project’s long-term mission is to make this music available to the widest audience possible.

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Again this year, a live broadcast of the concert by Chicago’s classical radio station, 98.7 WFMT, will allow thousands to participate in this annual Lenten tradition, either by radio or streaming on WFMT's website.

 

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Tickets are available online from our ticket service, Brown Paper Tickets,
or by calling their 24/7 Ticket Hotline, 1-800-838-3006.

TICKETS: $40, $50, $75 in advance
($10 more at the door)

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Click here to see a seating chart.

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The Chicago Bach Project is made possible in part through support from
Fellowes, Inc., Martin Avenue Pharmacy
and Tassos.

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PRESENTED BY

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John Nelson speaks about the St. John Passion

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Maestro John Nelson
(Photo: David Zaugh)

In a series of interviews for 98.7 WFMT, Chicago's classical music radio station, conductor John Nelson guides listeners into the core of the music and text of the St. John Passion. (Interview courtesy of 98.7 WFMT)

 

ARIA 7: Von den Stricken meiner Sünden
Maestro Nelson speaks about the amazing way in which Bach echoes every word of the text in the music of his St. John Passion.

Click to hear a clip from Von den Stricken meiner Sünden (Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Chorus Viennensis & Concentus Musicus Wien):

 

ARIAS 19 and 20: Betrachte, mein seel and Erwäge, wie sein blutgefärbter Rücken
Maestro Nelson speaks of the beauty and poignancy of the text, accompanied by Baroque instrumentsviola d'amores, lute, and viola da gambathat appear only at this particular moment in the piece.

Click to hear a clip from Betrachte, mein seel (Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Chorus Viennensis & Concentus Musicus Wien):

 

ARIAS 30 and 32: Es ist Vollbracht and Mein teurer Heilland
Maestro Nelson speaks of Bach's "immaculate sense of timing" and choice of instruments in the poignant "It is finished" section of the St. John Passion

Click to hear a clip from Es ist Vollbracht  (Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Chorus Viennensis & Concentus Musicus Wien):

Click to hear a clip from Mein teurer Heilland  (Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Chorus Viennensis & Concentus Musicus Wien):

More Bach

For a taste of John Nelson conducting Bach, enjoy this clip from our critically acclaimed DVD of Bach's Mass in B Minorr at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Available in the SDG Shop.

St. John Passion Notes and Text

Click to read the program notes for the St. John Passion (with great thanks to Markus Rathey at Yale University), along with the German text and English translation (courtesy of Francis Browne and Bach Cantatas, bach-cantatas.com).

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