The St. Matthew Passion is one of Johann Sebastian Bach’s best-known and most impressive compositions. His interpretation of the Passion of Jesus is brilliant, compelling and moving. The Bach Society’s traditional performances are a worldwide fixture and this year are led by one of the best baroque conductors of our time: Masaaki Suzuki.

Few musicians know Bach as well as conductor, organist and harpsichordist Masaaki Suzuki. He is known as an important representative of historical performance practice and a true Bach specialist. With his internationally renowned Bach Collegium Japan, he recorded almost all of Bach’s choral works. Suzuki was guest conductor of the Bach Society’s St. Matthew Passion back in 2005. Twenty years later, he returns with even more experience and a deeper vision of Bach’s masterpiece: “Bach performed the St. Matthew Passion perhaps four times in his time; I more than a hundred times, all over the world. Despite this, it has never become something soft or friendly, and each time I am challenged to dig even deeper with full devotion, to yearn even more strongly, to find even more beauty. Once again I will perform the piece with dedication and heart and soul,” Suzuki said.

Evangelist: Nicolas Mulroy | soprano: Hana Blažíková and Miku Yasukawa | alto: Alexander Chance and Christopher Lowrey | tenor: Raphael Höhn and Shimon Yoshida | bass: Stephan MacLeod and Toru Kaku | with Kampen Boys Choir