The St. Matthew Passion. For many music lovers, Easter, and even spring, has not begun without this masterpiece by Johann Sebastian Bach. This also applies to Residentie Bachkoor (RBK). The piece is in the singers’ DNA. On Sunday 13 April, the RBK will perform the passion story in Amare in The Hague. A truly Hague performance with the cooperation of the Hague Bach Orchestra, the Hague Sailors’ Choir and, for the last time, under the direction of Jos Vermunt. The best start to spring.
Matthew specialist
The St. Matthew Passion tells the story of the betrayal, trial and crucifixion of Jesus during his last days. The music and lyrics depict deeply human feelings that even the listener of the twenty-first century can identify with. The Residentie Bachkoor can call itself a true St. Matthew specialist. The performance of this piece of music has been a tradition since the seventies. The RBK worked together with the Residentie Orchestra for many years under the direction of conductors such as Jan Willem de Vriend, Richard Egarr and Jaap van Zweden. In 2006, the Residentie Bachkoor, conducted by Jos Vermunt, recorded the Dutch St. Matthew Passion, in the retranslation by Jan Rot. The CD was awarded a gold record.
Last St. Matthew Passion for Jos Vermunt
Conductor Jos Vermunt will be the musical director. This will be his last St. Matthew Passion with the Residentie Bachkoor. After 30 years as the permanent conductor, he will be saying goodbye. A farewell without the St. Matthew Passion is of course unthinkable. “I am really looking forward to this concert. We all know the great emotions that Bach expresses in this music, whether you are religious or not.” Regina Oosting, chair of the RBK: “For us as a choir, this is a special concert; the piece that we love to perform with Jos and in which he repeatedly made us discover new things in this masterful piece. This will be the last time with our beloved conductor. We will enjoy his inspiring leadership more than ever.”
Soloists with international allure
The Residentie Bachkoor performs the St. Matthew Passion with Keren Motseri, Carina Vinke, Jan-Willem Schaafsma and Florian Just. Clemens Löschman can be heard as the evangelist and Maarten Koningsberger as Christ. Each and every one of them are soloists with allure who have earned their spurs on (inter)national concert stages.
A truly Dutch tradition
The St. Matthew Passion has been performed in the Netherlands for over 150 years. Bach wrote the work for the church service on Good Friday in the Thomaskirche in Leipzig. After his death, the piece was forgotten for a long time, but 100 years later Felix Mendelssohn breathed new life into the St. Matthew Passion. In 1870, the score ended up in the Netherlands, where conductor Woldemar Bargiel performed the work for the first time with Toonkunst Rotterdam. The beginning of what would eventually become a true Dutch tradition.
Amare Concert Hall, The Hague
Sunday April 13, 2025, starting at 2:00 PM
Bach Choir Residence
The Hague Sailors’ Choir
Bach Orchestra Residence
Clemens Löschmann – evangelist
Maarten Koningsberger – Christ
Keren Motseri – soprano
Carina Vinke – alto
Jan-Willem Schaafsma – tenor
Florian Just – bass
Jos Vermunt – conductor
Ticket sales via amare.nl
Rank I: €45,- Rank II: €38,- Rank III: €34,- Rank 4: €29,- Youth up to 29 years €11,-
Admission prices include program booklet and intermission drink. https://www.amare.nl/nl/agenda/3202/residentie-bachkoor/matthaus-passion
