Masaaki Suzuki / Bach Collegium Japan - NOSPR

Two of Bach’s passion works have been preserved in their entirety; both come from the later years of his composing career, after he was appointed Cantor of the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig in 1723. Working on the St John Passion, Bach expected it to be performed in his home church, but it was decided that the first performance would take place in the St. Nicholas Church, in accordance with the Leipzig tradition. This misunderstanding was revealed only four days before the ceremonial service. The cantor had to summon musicians from both churches to form a large vocal-instrumental ensemble at very short notice. Despite these complications, the work was performed in the original version on 7 April 1724. The libretto is based on the Gospel of John, supplemented by a compilation of various poems. Because of the inconsistencies in the text, Bach modified the work several times. Perhaps this is why the St John Passion has been undeservedly considered incomplete or abandoned half way through. In fact, it can be interpreted in terms of an irresistible impulse to create and as a result of an experiment: a search for new means of expression. The St John Passion is not a chaotic assembly of incompatible narratives; it is a brilliant omen of two later works, of which only one has survived in its entirety to the present day: the St Matthew Passion.