For Prom 40 today, Monday 19 August, the BBC Proms are all about Bach. Yes, this evening's Prom at the Royal Albert Hall features a performance of the St John Passion, the great composer's stunning oratorio from 1724.
Head back to www.classical-music.com every day during the 2024 Proms, for your essential programme notes to each of this year's Proms. And visit our shiny 2024 BBC Proms guide for all the info you need on every single Prom, including repertoire, performers, times, ticket prices and more.
What's on at the BBC Proms today?
Prom 40 features a full performance of Bach's magnificent St John Passion. This was the earlier of two sacred oratorios that Bach composed while working as director of church music in the German city of Leipzig. The work got its first performance on 7 April 1724.
The St John Passion is designed to be performed in two halves, with a sermon typically coming in between. The text or libretto is made up of recitatives and choruses that tell the story of the Passion of Jesus Christ (his final days, including arrest and death) as told in the St John Gospel. There are also arias that reflect on the narrative, as well as chorales that use hymn tunes and texts that would have been familiar to congregations in Bach's day.
When compared with his later Passion oratorio, the St Matthew Passion, this work can be seen as somewhat less refined and more extravagant - as our Bach expert Paul Riley points out, 'if not operatic, the St John Passon is certainly dramatic (a fine line, almost overstepped at times).
'Rooted in the past, yet fuelled by vibrant Italian imports such as recitative and the da capo aria, it inaugurated a choral journey that would occupy Bach to the end of his life.'
Who is performing at the BBC Proms today?
Today's performance of Bach's St John Passion is performed by noted Bach performers, the Bach Collegium Japan and conductor Masaaki Suzuki. The many acclaimed Bach recordings by these forces include a cycle of the complete Bach cantatas that runs to no fewer than 55 CDs! You can find a review of one of their Bach cantatas series elsewhere on our site.
Tonight's soloists include Benjamin Bruns as St John the Evangelist, Christian Immler as Jesus, and Yusuke Watanabe as Pontius Pilate.
What time does tonight's Prom start, and how much are tickets?
Prom 40 (Bach St John Passion) gets going at 7.30pm, and tickets are priced between £11 and £54.
