Internationally renowned tenor Rufus Müller will perform the role of the Evangelist in J.S Bach’s powerful and moving St. John Passion in Kitchener on Good Friday, April 22.
This work, presented at Centre In The Square by the Grand Philharmonic Choir, is Bach’s most dramatic telling of the Passion story, said the choir’s artistic director and conductor, Mark Vuorinen.
It is a long-standing tradition for the choir to present a Bach masterwork on Good Friday as an opportunity for the audience to reflect on the story of Jesus Christ’s betrayal, arrest and crucifixion.
“The listener is immediately brought into the scene as the narrative unfolds through Bach’s eyes,” said Vuorinen. “The anguish of Peter’s denial is made visceral in Bach’s telling; the chorus takes on the shouts of the chief priests, Roman soldiers and the crowd.” But just as the choir plays the various roles of the Passion participants, it also steps back to offer what Vuorinen describes as “poetic reflection through the beautiful heritage of the German chorale. “It is a profound juxtaposition to have the chorus filling both roles,” he said.
Müller has a stellar international reputation, both in opera and oratorio. He was recently acclaimed by the New York Times as “easily the best tenor I have ever heard in a live Messiah.” Müller also gave the world premiere of Jonathan Miller’s production of the St. Matthew Passion, which was also recorded and broadcast on BBC TV. His unique dramatic portrayal of the role of the Evangelist, who is the narrator in both the Bach St. Matthew Passion and the St. John Passion, has made him one of the world’s most sought-after performers.
Müller and the choir will be joined by the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and soloists: Agnes Zsigovics, soprano; Vicki St. Pierre, mezzo-soprano; James McLennan, tenor; Nathaniel Watson, baritone and the role of Jesus; and Daniel Lichti, bass-baritone and the role of Pilate.
The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available from the Centre box office, 519-578-1570 or www.centre-square.com. Prices range from $20 to $65 for adults, with discounts for seniors, children, under-30s, and as low as $5 for high school students. For more information, contact Mark Vuorinen, Grand Philharmonic Choir artistic director and conductor markvuorinen@grandphilchoir.com or (416)906-2785 (cell)
