Prom 12 - 26.07.14: JSB - St. John Passion, ZKO / Norrington

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Saturday, 26 July
8.00 p.m. – c. 10.15 p.m.
Royal Albert Hall

J.S. Bach: St John Passion, BWV 245

James Gilchrist, tenor (Evangelist)
Neal Davies, bass-baritone (Christus)
Lucy Crowe, soprano
Clint van der Linde, countertenor (Proms debut artist)
Joshua Ellicott, tenor
Hanno Müller-Brachmann], baritone

Zürcher Sing-Akademie (Proms debut ensemble)
Zürcher Kammerorchester (Zurich Chamber Orchestra; Proms debut ensemble)
Sir Roger Norrington, conductor

In the first of two Proms appearances, leading Bach interpreter Sir Roger Norrington - celebrating his 80th birthday this year - directs his Zurich Chamber Orchestra in the St John Passion (bookended later this season by Peter Sellars's staging of the St Matthew Passion, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle) - a work noted for its dramatic sweep and emotional immediacy in the recounting of events leading to the crucifixion of Christ. It is realised here by a cast led by tenor James Gilchrist, a distinguished Evangelist of his generation.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Many thanks to Bluestateprommer for pointing out that Benjamin Hulett has replaced Andrew Kennedy as the tenor soloist.

[gurnemanz]

Booked for this and looking forward. We're meeting up with some old friends from Germany. Last heard live in Thomaskirche about 35 years ago. I also haven't seen Norrie since a Prom in the early 70s so keen to see how the old chap copes.

[Lento]

keen to see how the old chap copes.

I expect (and hope) he'll be sitting down and smiling benignly with a glass of water at hand! Looks v promising.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'm no fan of RN but if he were to concentrate on this era of music I might become a convert.

[doversoul1]

It maybe the usual problem of transmission or my radio but the performance sounded to me very un-united. As for the soloists, I thought James Gilchrist was very good (as expected) and the tenor was good. I know we are spoilt by the likes of Iestyn Davies these days but I really did not like the countertenor in this performance who could sing high notes but that was about it and much too dramatic.

Again, it may be my problem with St John Passion, as I can’t help expecting to hear St Matthew Passion. Whatever it was, I’m afraid I can’t say I was very much moved by tonight’s performance.

[antongould]

......well I, hardly knowing the work at all, enjoyed it on a balmy............

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Perhaps unusually, I heard St John Passion before its famous big brother, so it holds a special place in my affections.

[Ferretfancy]

[QUOTE=Eine Alpensinfonie;417263]I'm no fan of RN but if he were to concentrate on this era of music I might become a convert.[/QUOTE
]

I couldn't make it last night, and I'm also not a Norrington Fan, but he started his career as a conductor and promoter of the music of Schütz, which was enterprising at the time.

[Lento]

Only on a few occasions did I feel the tempo a bit fast for the music, but positive feelings overall. Whether the tempi were always appropriate to the expressive intent is something some people may wish to debate. For an 8pm concert on a hot night, fast tempi were perhaps no bad thing on a practical level! Quite interesting interval discussion with Giles Fraser sitting on the fence as usual, and revealing what Bach and Wagner had in common, allegedly

[amateur51]

Only on a few occasions did I feel the tempo a bit fast for the music, but positive feelings overall. Whether the tempi were always appropriate to the expressive intent is something some people may wish to debate. For an 8pm concert on a hot night, fast tempi were perhaps no bad thing on a practical level! Quite interesting interval discussion with Giles Fraser sitting on the fence as usual, and revealing what Bach and Wagner had in common, allegedly

Did The Trendy Rev manage to weave a remark about male circumcision into his contribution?

Mind you he's probably suffering from shell-shock, having been Melanied twice on The Moral Maze recently

[gurnemanz]

Some lukewarm reviews but we went on Saturday and really enjoyed this Johannespassion. Worth going for Gilchrist's Evangelist alone. In the Queen's Arms afterwards, we even bumped into Pontius Pilate (who turned out to be an Englishman who sings with the Zürich choir).

[Ferretfancy]

Some lukewarm reviews but we went on Saturday and really enjoyed this Johannespassion. Worth going for Gilchrist's Evangelist alone. In the Queen's Arms afterwards, we even bumped into Pontius Pilate (who turned out to be an Englishman who sings with the Zürich choir).

Great movie moments --- Ben Hur has rescued a Roman senator, played by Jack Hawkins, frm the wreck of the slave galley. In gratitude, the senator takes him to a swanky party in Rome. Ben Hur is not vey impressed by all the wanton debauchery ( he is Charlton Heston, after all ) but is persuaded by Jack Hawkins -

"Let me introduce you to my friend Pontius Pilate "

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Great movie moments --- Ben Hur has rescued a Roman senator, played by Jack Hawkins, frm the wreck of the slave galley. In gratitude, the senator takes him to a swanky party in Rome. Ben Hur is not vey impressed by all the wanton debauchery ( he is Charlton Heston, after all ) but is persuaded by Jack Hawkins -

"Let me introduce you to my friend Pontius Pilate "