Bach Cantata Choir St Matthew Passion

The Bach Cantata Choir presents J. S. Bach's great masterpiece -- the St. Matthew Passion at  2pm-5pm at Rose City Park Presbyterian Church, 1907 NE 45th St. in Portland Oregon.  Ralph Nelson conducts the 60-voice choir, soloists and 20-piece chamber orchestra. 

Johann Sebastian Bach wrote his St Matthew Passion in 1727 for the annual Good Friday worship service at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Germany.  The actual date of the first performance was April 11, 1727 - so the Bach Cantata Choir's performance will be on the actual 300th Anniversary of the Bach's first performance.  In the work, which follows closely the Passion story from the Gospel of Matthew, there are various types of musical composition which Bach uses to tell the story as well as enhance the meaning of the story. The Evangelist (played by tenor Leslie Green) sings the narrative from the Bible, along with other soloists playing various roles (Jesus, Peter, Pilate, maids, and the chorus during "crowd scenes").  Interspersed with the gospel text are either solos (based on German poetry) or chorales (i.e. German hymns). 

Scored for double chorus, four soloists, and double orchestra, the St. Matthew Passion contains some of Bach's most beautiful writing. Soloists for this performance will be soprano Vakaré Petroliūnaité, alto Laura Beckel Thoresen, tenor Leslie Green, and bass Jacob Herbert.  

Audience members should expect the concert to last until 5pm.  There will be one intermission. 

Rose City Park Presbyterian is located in the Hollywood District at the corner of NE 44th St. and NE Sandy Boulevard. The church has an elevator from the parking lot to provide patrons with handicapped access. All tickets are $40 for general admission seating. Doors will open at 1pm.  Students may purchase $10 at the door starting at 1pm on the day of the concert.