Bach's St. Matthew Passion comes to VU

Bach's monumental St. Matthew Passion will be performed at Valparaiso University's Chapel of the Resurrection on Saturday, eight days before Palm Sunday, which begins the holiest week of the Christian liturgy.

The performance is sponsored by VU's Bach Institute, directed by Christopher M. Cock, Duesenberg chair in Lutheran music. Cock calls Bach's work perhaps the most powerful and dramatic telling of Jesus' arrest, trial and crucifixion ever composed.

"It's the ultimate way to tell the passion narrative across all genres of art," Cock says. "Persons of any Christian faith will be deeply drawn into the setting."

Northwest Indiana and Chicago area concertgoers will recognize the hymn tune, which Bach uses four times during the passion, from its English title "O Sacred Head Surrounded."

The performance will be guest-conducted by Hermann Max, music director of the Rheinische Kantorei and Das Kleine Konzert, and the 2008 recipient of the Bach Medal, awarded annually by the city of Leipzig, Germany, to outstanding international artists for their commitment to the performance and maintenance of Bach's music.

Since the 1960s, Max has been a key figure in the historically informed performance movement.

"Max is one of the greatest proponents of this approach," Cock says. "Major principles include research in libraries and archives, construction of editions faithful to the original sources, use of authentic period instruments (or exact replicas), and performances that follow rules and practices of the time.

"Having Max conduct this concert will allow performers and listeners to deepen their understanding of how the St. Matthew Passion would have been originally performed nearly 300 years ago," Cock says.

Approximately 125 instrumentalists and singers will take part in the concert, including the VU's Chorale, Symphony Orchestra (joined by professional musicians) and Bach Choir, and the Jubilate Choir of Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Cock will sing the Evangelist, a role for which he is internationally renowned. VU music faculty member Ralph Klapis will sing the role of Jesus.

Other featured soloists include soprano Maura Janton Cock, adjunct instructor in music; mezzo-soprano Angela Young Smucker and bass Daniel Eifert, both VU alumni; and tenor Kurt R. Hansen.

The text will be sung in the original German, with Michael Marissen's "accurate and compelling" English translation given in the program, Cock says.

Performance time is approximately three hours, including one intermission.

Bach's St. Matthew Passion, presented by the Bach Institute of Valparaiso University with guest conductor Hermann Max, 7 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Chapel of the Resurrection, Valparaiso University

COST: $25 for adults, $15 for seniors and non-VU students, free for VU students, faculty, staff

FYI: (219) 464-5162 or valpo.edu/bach/schedule/index.php