U.S. Premiere

St. Matthew Passion

Peter Sellars
Berliner Philharmoniker
Simon Rattle

U.S. Premiere

St. Matthew Passion

Peter Sellars
Berliner Philharmoniker
Simon Rattle

October 7, 2014 - October 8, 2014

Wade Thompson Drill Hall

Regarded as one of the quintessential masterpieces of classical sacred music, Bach’s revered account of Christ’s Passion from the Gospel of Matthew is detailed through sublimely beautiful music that is eloquent and profoundly moving, both in its humanity and spirituality. While a highlight of concert seasons and festivals around the world for more than 150 years, Bach’s final and most dramatic Passion was never intended to be staged.

Renowned for his highly original takes on operatic works, Peter Sellars ritualizes this magnificent masterpiece to create a communal grieving process while illuminating Bach’s unmatched gift for presenting both deep hardship and the possibility of transcendence. This radically inclusive approach eliminates the separation between artist and audience—there are no spectators, only observers and participants—with musicians and singers moving amongst each other. Hailed as “the single most important thing we ever did here” by Simon Rattle when the production premiered at the Berlin Philharmonie in 2010, Rattle again leads the Berliner Philharmoniker, a cast of superb singers including Mark Padmore and Christian Gerhaher, and extensive choral forces for the U.S. premiere of this epic production.

Performances

Tuesday–Wedndesday at 7:00pm

“…the Berlin Philharmonic made Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, that old collection of cumbersome glories, feel like a stunningly contemporary drama… Rattle’s Berlin Philharmonic is defining what the 21st-century orchestra should be.”

New York Magazine

“…a staging by director Peter Sellars that has become a landmark in visionary programming…”

The Boston Globe

“…this excellent choir, founded in 1925, had shown extraordinary personal commitment and textual nuance in Peter Sellars’s heart-wrenching ritualization of Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion” at the Park Avenue Armory.”

The New York Times

Gallery

  • Mark Padmore (Evangelist) and Magdalena Kožená (mezzo-soprano) in Peter Sellars' staging of J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion at Park Avenue Armory.
    Photo: Stephanie Berger

    1/10

  • Mark Padmore (Evangelist) with the Rundfunkchor Berlin in Peter Sellars' staging of J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion at Park Avenue Armory.
    Photo: Stephanie Berger

    2/10

  • Conductor Simon Rattle leads the Berliner Philharmoniker in Peter Sellars' staging of J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion at Park Avenue Armory.
    Photo: Stephanie Berger

    3/10

  • Bass-baritone Erin Owens (center) in Peter Sellars' staging of J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion at Park Avenue Armory.
    Photo: Stephanie Berger

    4/10

  • Eric Owens (bass-baritone) and Mark Padmore (Evangelist) with conductor Simon Rattle and the Berliner Philharmoniker in Peter Sellars' staging of J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion at Park Avenue Armory.
    Photo: Stephanie Berger

    5/10

  • Peter Sellars' staging of J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion, performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker under the baton of Simon Rattle at Park Avenue Armory.
    Photo: Stephanie Berger

    6/10

  • Peter Sellars' staging of J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion, performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker under the baton of Simon Rattle at Park Avenue Armory.
    Photo: Stephanie Berger

    7/10

  • Peter Sellars' staging of J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion, performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker under the baton of Simon Rattle at Park Avenue Armory.
    Photo: Stephanie Berger

    8/10

  • Peter Sellars' staging of J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion, performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker under the baton of Simon Rattle at Park Avenue Armory.
    Photo: Stephanie Berger

    9/10

  • Mark Padmore (Evangelist) in Peter Sellars' staging of J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion, performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker under the baton of Simon Rattle at Park Avenue Armory.
    Photo: Stephanie Berger

    10/10

Artists & Creatives

  • Berliner Philharmoniker

  • Conductor

    Simon Rattle

  • Evangelist

    Mark Padmore

  • Jesus

    Christian Gerhaher

  • Soprano

    Camilla Tilling

  • Mezzo-Soprano

    Magdalena Kožená

  • Tenor

    Topi Lehtipuu

  • Bass-Baritone

    Eric Owens

  • Rundfunkchor Berlin

  • Chorus Master

    Simon Halsey

  • Director

    Peter Sellars

Production Credits

Co-presented by Park Avenue Armory and Lincoln Center's White Light Festival.

Support

The Berliner Philharmoniker residency in New York City is made possible by a leadership gift from the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, and Marina Kellen French.

Park Avenue Armory and Lincoln Center would like to thank Carnegie Hall for its collaboration in making possible these Berliner Philharmoniker performances.

This production is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

  • NYSCA - Sponsor Logo - SVG