Saturday 16 March 2002
Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, SE1
JS Bach St John Passion
Thames Festival Orchestra
Thames Philharmonic Choir

In this run-up to Holy Week and Easter, it was a fitting and memorable performance of the St John Passion of JS Bach that was given by the Thames Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra, directed by John Bate, at Southwark Cathedral last Saturday.

What made this a truly gripping and outstanding experience were firstly the casting: the soloists contrasted and complemented each other dramatically; and secondly the pace of the individual sections and an emotional timing expertly gauged by the director.

Christopher Watson as Evangelist was riveting in tone and in swinging Bach's recitative line in the service of the narrative. In conjunction with the well-judged dramatic timing and gathering force towards and into part two, the recitative pulled us from aria to chorus to chorale. Simon Kirkbridge as Christus by contrast had all the necessary garavitas and presence for the part. Ruth Peel, alto soloist, and Yvette Bonner, soprano were also dark and bright in tone respectively with Muchael Bundy as bass soloist.

It was David Newman in his tenor arias with their powerful emotional edge that affected the devotional temperature throughtout; and the gathering confidence and sensitive interpretation of chorales by the choir leant a sureness of touch, weaving the drama to its conclusion and sending us out thoughtful and deeply moved.

This was a Bach Passion at its best.

MN Woodroffe, Richmond and Twickenham Times, 22 March 2002