Matthew Passion: Emotional performance on Good Friday in Aalen!

Matthew Passion: Emotional performance on Good Friday in Aalen!

Aalen, Deutschland - On April 18, 2025, the performance of the Matthäus-Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach will instead of. At 5 p.m., this masterpiece, which is considered the summit of Western music history, is listed under the direction of church music director Thomas Haller. The performance takes over the Aalen and Heidenheimer Kantorei, which appears together with an orchestra and a large number of soloists, including Clara Steuerwald, Anne Greiling, Tobias Völklein, Gerrit Illenberger and Christian T. Wester.

The Matthew Passion, which is already 300 years old today, addresses central content such as rule, uprising, state failure, betrayal, guilt, repentance, repentance and redemption. It reflects human hope and prayer for grace. Even if the duration of the performance is almost three hours, the evening is described as a worthy service for the highest holiday in Protestant Christianity.

an important work

The Matthew Passion is not only a musical masterpiece, but also a dramatic certificate of faith. It is based on the passion reports of the evangelist Matthew and addresses the last hours of Jesus Christ, including the last sacrament and his crucifixion. The text basis comes from Christian Friedrich Henrici, alias Picander. The composition is characterized by a rich structure and combines a variety of musical elements.

The performance will take place in the nave, which will create a special atmosphere for the presentation of music. Since the Matthäus Passion is traditionally part of the liturgy in Holy Week, the parishioners can sing along, which intensifies the community and the experience of passion.

historical connection

The premiere of the Matthew Passion took place on Good Friday 1729 in Leipzig, at that time the reaction of the audience was mixed. Many listeners were surprised by the dramatic style, which was sometimes perceived as frivolous at that time. Bach established a deep emotional connection to the biblical texts in his score through sound painting and number symbolism. Despite initial skepticism, the work has established itself over the centuries as a central component of the repertoire of church music.

The Matthew Passion contains 15 chorales and 28 madrigal seals as well as a variety of recitative and arias that emphasize the emotional depth of the work. It was not until 1830, over 100 years after its premiere, that the score was first printed, which underlines its importance in music history. The rediscovery by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy in 1829 contributed significantly to its popularity in today's world.

Tickets for this outstanding musical event are available via www.kirchenmusik-aalen.de and from the box office. The Matthew Passion promises a moving experience and an intensive examination of faith and music.