Christian Gerhaher & Magdalena Kožená Highlight Broadcast of ‘St Matthew Passion’ From Berlin Philharmonic

By Dejan Vukosavljevic
(Credits: Sony/ Gregor Hohenberg / Oleg Rostovtsev)

The Berlin Philharmonic has announced that it will unlock its Digital Concert Hall in order to broadcast the presentation of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “St Matthew Passion,” BWV 244.

The performance was filmed on April 11, 2010, and stars baritone Christian Gerhaher, mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená, soprano Camilla Tilling, tenor Mark Padmore, tenor Topi Lehtipuu, and bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff. English Choral conductor Simon Halsey and Professor of Choral Singing Kai-Uwe Jirka conduct the production by Peter Sellars.

The performance showcases the Rundfunkchor Berlin.

The Berlin Philharmonic was able to offer one performance for live audiences on March 20 that was conducted by Chief Conductor Kirill Petrenko. The performance was a part of the broader Testing Pilot Project of the Senate of Berlin. The project was subsequently suspended until further notice due to the extended lockdown regulations in Germany. The Senate of Berlin announced a new decision regarding the status of the cultural sector.

Germany is undergoing an ongoing COVID-19 pandemic crisis, and many opera houses and concert halls have turned to streaming. You can watch the performance here. The broadcast will be available for viewing until April 5, 2021.

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