St Matthew Passion – J.S. Bach
Aberdeen Bach Choir and St Margaret’s School Chamber Choir
Musical Director: Peter Parfitt
Aberdeen Sinfonietta
Leader: Bryan Dargie
St Machar's Cathedral
Sunday April 29th 2012 at 3:00 p.m (part 1) and 6:00 p.m. (part 2)
On Sunday April 29th 2012, Aberdeen Bach Choir performed Bach’s mighty St Matthew Passion. This performance took place just over 100 years after the work’s first performance in Aberdeen, also in St Machar’s Cathedral, on 2 April 1912.
The work was sung in its original German. Aberdeen Bach Choir, supplemented by St Margaret's School Chamber Choir, were accompanied by Aberdeen Sinfonietta and there was a star studded line of soloists:
Evangelist – Nicholas Mulroy
Christus – Henry Waddington
Soprano – Emma Kirkby
Counter Tenor – Michael Chance
Tenor – Malcolm Bennett
Bass – Alex Ashworth
The part of Pilate was sung by Andrew Morrisson.
Members of Aberdeen Bach Choir and St Margaret's School Chamber Choir sang other minor roles:
Angela Slater – Pilate’s Wife; Ben Wightman – Peter; Andrew Greer – Judas; Flora Bramwell and Richard Coleman – False Witnesses; Bruce Irvine, Robert Wilson, Mike Radcliffe – High Priests; Christina Gordon and Eleanor House (St Margaret's School Chamber Choir) – maidens/damsels