Bach: St John's Passion - Temple
Chandos CHSA 5183/4 (2 discs)
Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid
Classical - Vocal
Bach: St John's Passion (sung in English)
Sophie Bevan (soprano)
Robin Blaze (alto)
Benjamin Hulett (tenor)
Robert Murray (tenor)
Andrew Ashwin (baritone)
Neal Davies (bass-baritone)
Ashley Riches (bass-baritone)
Crouch End Festival Chorus
Bach Camerata
David Temple
For its very first excursion on Chandos, the Crouch End Festival Chorus presents a landmark recording of J.S. Bach’s St John Passion sung in English – the first for over forty-five years.
With communicative zeal, beautiful articulation, and focused energy, this choir of more than 100 voices lends precision and power to the performance alongside the instruments of the Bach Camerata, one of the finest UK baroque orchestras, all under the inspired direction of David Temple.
The essence of the work is the conveying of a human story underpinned by the universal themes of love, betrayal, loss, and hope. The performance in English allows the drama and visceral energy of the work to go straight to the heart of the English-speaking listener. The narrative is immediately understood, and the power of the storytelling imbues Bach’s music with extra freshness and meaning.
Thanks to an array of superb soloists and orchestral musicians, the new recording brings those qualities together in a performance which will present a well-loved piece in a completely new light, and appeal to existing and future generations of music-lovers alike.
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Recorded 1-3 September 2016 at the Church of St. Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London NW11, 24/96
Recording producer: Rachel Smith
Sound engineer and mastering: Jonathan Cooper
Assistant engineer: Rosanna Fish
CEFC, project manager: Genevieve Helsby
A&R administrator: Sue Shortridge
Microphones: Schoeps - MK22 / MK41 / MK6 / MK21; DPA - 4006 & 4011; Neumann - U89
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