The University of Chicago’s Rockefeller Memorial Chapel will present J.S. Bach’s masterwork, the St. John Passion, in its seldom-heard final form at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 17.
Michael Marissen, the Daniel Underhill Professor of Music at Swarthmore College, an internationally acclaimed J.S. Bach scholar, will deliver a pre-concert lecture at 2 p.m. in Ida Noyes Hall. He has published many articles on Bach’s instrumental and vocal music and is the author of Bach’s Oratorios - The parallel German-English texts, with annotations, and The Social and Religious Designs of J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, among others.
James Kallembach will direct the Rockefeller Chapel Choir, Motet Choir, and guest soloists in performing the St. John Passion.
Guest soloist Matthew Anderson will sing the part of the Evangelist. Anderson was awarded second place in the 2010 Oratorio Society of New York Solo Competition, and sings regularly as a soloist in Boston's renowned Emmanuel Music Bach Cantata Series.
Other soloists include Christine Buras, Matthew Dean, Lon Ellenberger, Andrew Schultze and Mark Winston.
Bach revised the St. John Passion numerous times throughout his life. Because of these extensive revisions, there is no authoritative version of the score, and modern performers often assemble a conglomerate of movements and orchestrations.
The original 1724 version, which is perhaps most familiar to modern listeners, was revised in subsequent years. The Rockefeller choirs will perform Bach’s final 1749 version, which was similar to the original, but included small changes to the text and orchestration.
Advance ticket prices are $32 front nave, $22 general, $8 students; tickets purchased at the door are $35 front nave, $25 general, $10 students. Advance tickets are available during business hours in person, by calling (773) 702-2100, or by sending a check, payable to Rockefeller Chapel, marked St. John tickets.
The concert is underwritten in part by the Doris L. Taub Memorial Fund. Rockefeller Chapel is located at 5850 S. Woodlawn Ave.
—Prof. Kunle Odunsi
