In an ideal world, says Brett Weymark, every Easter would bring a Bach passion, the B minor mass, or perhaps a Handel oratorio – a musical ‘feast’ in the calendar. And in 2026 that feast is Bach’s St John Passion, sung by the Symphony Chorus with our Baroque Orchestra performing on period instruments.

The St John Passion might have been written for a Lutheran Good Friday church service – a ‘sermon in sound’ – but Bach’s theatrical instincts found a perfect outlet in the rollercoaster of emotions in John’s account of the Easter story. There’s fury, betrayal, anguish, comfort – underpinned by a compelling humanity.

Leading the magnificent cast of soloists in this distinctive blend of narrative, drama and reflection is Evangelist Alexander Lewis, returning after his impressive, theatrical performance in Samson (2023). And our 120-voice Symphony Chorus will truly shine, bringing a fierce, and sometimes terrifying, intensity to the crowd scenes, and a powerful communal spirit to the meditative chorales.