North American Premiere!
With The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia
With Susanna Phillips, soprano, Marietta Simpson, mezzo-soprano, Yusuke Fujii, tenor, Andrew Bogard, bass, and Michael Stairs, organ
Alan Harler, Conductor
The St. Matthew Passion is revered today as one of the great masterpieces of the choral repertoire, but along with much of Bach’s vast output, it sank into obscurity in the decades following his death. When the 20-year-old Felix Mendelssohn conducted a performance of the Passion in 1829, it helped to inspire a widespread revival of Bach’s music, and fueled the growth of choral societies across Europe and the United States. The founding of Mendelssohn Club in 1874 was inspired by this revival and we are pleased to look back to our beginnings as we present the North American premiere of Mendelssohn’s edition of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. Artistic director Alan Harler studied the detailed performing notes found in Mendelssohn’s copy of Bach’s manuscript and this performance will be based on that research. Experience Bach’s genius through Mendelssohn’s eyes.
Support provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage
