Exultate Singers: St Matthew Passion

Bristol’s accomplished chamber choir Exultate Singers joins forces with the period-instrument orchestra Bristol Ensemble Baroque to perform one of the most profound and moving works ever written – J.S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion.

Composed in 1727 for Good Friday at St Thomas’s Church in Leipzig, the St Matthew Passion stands as one of the crowning achievements of Western music. It tells the story of Christ’s final days – his betrayal, trial, crucifixion, and burial – in music of drama, devotion and beauty that continues to resonate nearly three centuries later.

Bach’s music moves seamlessly between vivid storytelling and moments of deep reflection. The Evangelist narrates the unfolding events in expressive recitative, and heartfelt arias, chorales and monumental choruses invite the listener to contemplate universal themes of suffering, compassion and redemption.

For this performance, Peter Davoren takes the role of the Evangelist, with Frederick Long as Christus, leading an exceptional team of soloists and the rich, expressive voices of Exultate Singers. They are joined by Bristol Ensemble Baroque performing on authentic period instruments, bringing clarity, colour and immediacy to Bach’s glorious score.

The magnificent acoustic of St George’s Bristol provides the perfect setting for this immersive and powerful musical experience. Whether you are encountering the work for the first time or returning to it as a cherished masterpiece, this promises to be an unforgettable evening of spiritual and emotional intensity, performed in the original German.