Prom 49: Bach’s St John Passion, Royal Albert Hall

All three Proms concerts on Sunday 20 August are inspired by religious music, and dubbed Reformation Day, at the heart of the programmes are settings old and new of sacred texts.

This third and final concert is a given over entirely to the St John Passion by JS Bach. Like the same composer’s St Matthew Passion, it has become a work of ever widening appeal, touching those of all faiths and none, with its story-telling and compassion.

But above all it is the succession of arias and choruses both beautiful and dramatic that hold audiences spellbound, each with its own distinctive orchestration.

Tim Mead © Photo: Andy Staples

Soloists on this occasion are the cream of Baroque singing in England: soprano Sophie Bevan, counter-tenor Tim Mead, and tenor Andrew Tortise, with the German bass Konstantin Wolff. The tenor Nicholas Mulroy sings the role of Evangelist, and the bass Matthew Brook sings Jesus.

Many of these singers are regular soloists with the early music specialists the Dunedin Consort, founded and directed by John Butt, who directs from the harpischord.

The St John Passion was sung on four occasions in the composer’s lifetime, and each Easter performance was different. So it is with modern-day performances, which use choirs and orchestras of all sizes. At this Prom, the entire audience will invited to join in the singing of the simple, strong hymn-like chorales, a matchless way to get right to the heart of the work.

General booking opens Saturday 13 May, 9:00.