The St. Matthew Passion is scored for two choirs and two orchestras, a division physically possible in the Church of St. Thomas in Leipzig where it was first performed.
Composition History
The St. Matthew Passion was first performed on Good Friday, either in 1727 or 1729, and was later revised in 1736 and 1740.
Performer Biography
Géza Oberfrank, the conductor, studied composition and conducting at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest and has held conducting positions at the Hungarian State Opera and Komische Oper in Berlin.
Performer Biography
The Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra, established in 1923 as the Budapest Municipal Orchestra, assumed its current name in 1949 and has been directed by János Ferencsik since 1952.
Compositional Technique
The text of the St. Matthew Passion combines Martin Luther's translation of the Gospel of St. Matthew with newly written meditative texts and harmonized chorales by Picander (Christian Friedrich Henrici).
Composition History
Bach composed five Passion settings, but only those based on the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. John survive.
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