Bach’s St Matthew Passion (From Ilkley Gazette)

Bach’s St Matthew Passion at Leeds Town Hall, Saturday, April 9

11:27am Friday 15th April 2011 in Leisure By Geoffrey Mogridge

Neil Jenkins’s English translation of J S Bach’s St Matthew Passion is so graphically descriptive that I doubt if few of those lucky enough to be present at last Saturday’s quite amazing performance could have felt anything less than totally involved and deeply moved.

Of the many remarkable qualities of the performance conducted by Simon Wright, the phrasing and interpretation of the words by an outstanding roster of soloists and the 130 voices of the Leeds Festival Chorus, were paramount.

So too were the Northern Sinfonia’s silken playing, and exquisite detailing – such as the oboe, continuo and gamba accompaniment in the recitative for tenor, He Holds His Peace Despite This Accusation.

Lynchpin of the performance was Wright’s consummate integration and balance. The St Matthew – performed here in its entirety – flowed seamlessly for three hours in all of its humanity, tenderness and drama. Bach’s shorter St John Passion is considered to be more intensely dramatic. However, there was no shortage of dramatic impact in the recitatives, and in the electrifying interjections of the Festival Chorus.

Tenor James Gilchrist sang the central role of the Evangelist with icy clarity and myriad colouring of words. The tall figure of New Zealand bass Paul Whelan brought his lustrous, velvety timbre – and with his long black hair, an authority and a Christ-like appearance to the role of Christus.

The superb aria and recitative soloists were equally clear and open in their delivery. Plangent-sounding soprano Sophie Bevan, alto Robin Blaze – heartrending in his aria Have Mercy Lord on Me – the tenor Andrew Staples and the bass Mark Stone – whose beautifully-phrased aria, Make Thee Clean From Sin was cushioned by a ravishing instrumental backdrop.

The superlative organ continuo players were Simon Lindley and Jan Waterfield, and the choristers of Leeds Parish Church and Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School provided the ripieno (fill-up voices) in the concluding chorale of Part One of this great work.