Not everyone knows that I'm also a professional mezzo-soprano and of course (natürlich!) some of my favorite music to sing is that of Johann Sebastian Bach. In Germany I cut my young professional teeth on works like the St. Matthew Passion (die Matthäus-Passion) singing in the Gächinger Kantorei with the Bachakademie Stuttgart.
This piece in particular holds a special place in my heart, because firstly, it's a masterpiece. Secondly, because I learned the whole choral part in about three days in intensive rehearsals (I definitely don't recommend learning it that fast, but man the tour in Italy which followed was incredible). And thirdly, because I got to sing it with the German conductor Helmut Rilling, who died earlier this year. Singing with Helmuth was a peak life experience, because with him everything came alive. The music, the text, the collaboration with the other musicians.
Personally, I don't think it matters if you're religious or only somewhat religious or not religious at all, the human elements of the Passion of Christ (the days leading up to and his crucifixion) are deeply moving and Bach has created an incredible experience for the musicians and the listeners. You witness public humiliation, beating, the love and care of those around him in the text and in the music itself. Combined, the text and the music are unforgettable.
I sang half the alto solos for the St. Matthew Passion in July and now you can read the text and listen to it in its entirety here.
auf Deutsch
Die Aufnahme der Matthäus-Passion in Northfield ist jetzt bei YouTube zu finden.
Hier ist das Programmheft mit dem Text auf Deutsch und auf Englisch: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/657c9f58f7e73313c84c1b95/t/6a568a6f2df41d6294ae3efd/1784056431612/SMP+Program+-+ALCM+2026.pdf
Und hier ist der Link zum Video: https://www.youtube.com/live/_gKdlGQ1c3A?si=zYWFZIO_fZ7wdXdU
(Meine erste Arie ist in der 23. Minuten zu finden und die zweite ist um 2:25:33.)
Wenn Sie Fragen haben, schreiben Sie bitte hier einen Kommentar und ich beantworte Ihre Frage(n) gern.
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auf Englisch
The recording of the St. Matthew Passion in Northfield is now available on YouTube.
The program with the text in German and in English is here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/657c9f58f7e73313c84c1b95/t/6a568a6f2df41d6294ae3efd/1784056431612/SMP+Program+-+ALCM+2026.pdf .
And here is the link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/live/_gKdlGQ1c3A?si=zYWFZIO_fZ7wdXdU .
(My first aria is in minute 23 and the second one is at 2:25:33.)
If you have any questions about it, please write a comment here and I'll be happy to answer your question(s).
