Inside Salisbury: Betrayal, trial and crucifixion
Salisbury Cathedral to wow audiences with Bach's St. John Passion
By Annette J Beveridge
A choral masterpiece will be performed next weekend as the sacred music of JS Bach’s St. John Passion depicts Christ’s betrayal, trial, and crucifixion.
The piece is renowned for its dramatic and intense qualities.
Salisbury Cathedral’s Director of Music David Halls, said: “J.S. Bach’s St John Passion pours out human emotion in this devotional work. It will be a pleasure to welcome back two of our former choristers as soloists and bring this incredible piece of work to our Salisbury audience before we begin Holy Week.”
David Halls will also be the conductor.
The chorus will be sung in the original German, accompanied by the outstanding period instrument ensemble Florilegium, and Assistant Director of Music John Challenger on Chamber Organ.
The soloists
The title role of Evangelist will be sung by Ruari Bowen, who most recently delighted Salisbury audiences with his Winter Words concert in January.
An experienced Evangelist of Bach’s Passions, he has performed at Wigmore Hall, Bachfest Leipzig and Snape Maltings, as well as with numerous choral societies across the UK, and will undertake the role at the annual Good Friday performance of St John Passion at St John’s Smith Square in 2025.
The role of Christus will be performed by Bass-Baritone Timothy Dickinson who enjoys a diverse performing career, ranging from concerts around the world to Operatic roles at Glyndebourne, Scottish Opera, Longborough and elsewhere. Timothy is also very active as an Oratorio soloist, embracing a broad repertoire including Bach’s Passions, the Requiems of Brahms, Verdi, Fauré and Duruflé, and Haydn’s The Creation.
The exceptional line-up of soloists will include the youngest of the first girl choristers of Salisbury Cathedral, Soprano Amy Carson. Amy has appeared as a soloist in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Versailles and the Concertgebouw (Monteverdi Choir), the Champs-Élysées and Wigmore Hall (Early Opera Company), the Barbican (Bach’s Matthew Passion) and St John’s Smith Square (La Nuova Musica and Gabrieli Consort).
Another former girl chorister returning is Mezzo-Soprano Anita Monserrat. Anita is a renowned soloist internationally, currently working as a member of the Wiener Staatsoper.
She recently won 1st prize at the 2024 SWR Junge Opernstars competition. In concert, Anita is equally in demand, performing in venues such as Wigmore Hall, Bath Abbey, Wiener Konzerthaus and Esplanade Concert Hall.
Performing as the tenor soloist is Magnus Walker. Magnus works across the UK both in concert and operatic stages. On the concert platform, Magnus has performed with orchestras such as the Lapland Chamber orchestra, the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. In recital, Magnus has performed in the Leeds Lieder Festival, Oxford International Song Festival, the Edinburgh International Festival and the International Lied Festival Zeist.
The Bass soloist and role of Pilatus will be performed by Jack Comerford. Jack works regularly with leading ensembles including Constellation, The Monteverdi Choir, OAE, The Sixteen, Gabrieli Consort and the Britten Sinfonia. Highlights have included Bach’s Motets at the BBC Proms with Harry Christophers, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis at the BBC Proms with Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Handel’s L’Allegro at Carnegie Hall, and the Coronation of King Charles III with the Monteverdi Choir.
Tickets for J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion on Saturday 12 April at 7pm are on sale now. Further information and ticketing details can be found at www.salisburycathedral.org.uk
Photos: Crucifix Marzia Colonna/Messiah Dec 2024 Credit Finnbarr Webster
Additional photos: Salisbury Cathedral.
