Bach St John Passion, Choir of Merton College Oxford

Yesterday's performance of Bach's St John Passion in the University Church of St Mary, the culmination of Merton College Passiontide series of concerts, was an inspirational one, and came as close to an ideal performance as you are ever likely to hear. 

  With exceptional soloists, a superbly trained choir and the score sensitively played on original instruments in these perfect surroundings, it was all that any Bach lover could have wished for. 

   The soloists were all wonderfully expressive, but I am particularly haunted by the seraphic, ethereal tones of soprano Lucy Cox. [https://www.lucycoxsoprano.com/] She is appearing again in Oxford on 25th April in Mozart's Great Mass in C minor with the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Sir John Rutter at the Sheldonian Theatre.

                   Lucinda Cox, soprano

   Benjamin Nicholas, the conductor, is Director of Music at Merton College and conductor of the Oxford Bach Choir. [https://www.merton.ox.ac.uk/people/benjamin-nicholas]

               Benjamin Nicholas, conductor

      This was a deeply moving occasion and a tour-de-force in all respects.

Credits:

Gwilym Bowen, Evangelist
Giles Underwood, Christ
Lucy Cox, soprano
Helen Charlston, alto
Bradley Smith, tenor
Florian Stortz, bass
Choir of Merton College
Britten Sinfonia
Benjamin Nicholas, Conductor