Bach’s St. Matthew and St. John Passions are perhaps his most often performed works during Holy Week. The St. Mark Passion is less well-known and it was nearly lost completely.

First performed in 1731, the St. Mark Passion was revised in 1744, and then the manuscript was lost. Fortunately, it was possible to reconstruct much of the work for two reasons: firstly, because the libretto survived, and secondly, because the St. Mark Passion reused music from Bach’s other works. This included movements from the Christmas Oratorio, the ode Laß Fürstin, laß noch einen Strahl (BWV 198), and the two arias from the cantata Wiederstehe doch der Sünde (BWV 54). In order to complete the work, the remaining words were set to other Bach arias or as recitative.

Emma will sing extracts of the St. Mark Passion together with soprano Caroline Stam and baritone Frits Karskens and the Brederode Consort in a concert on 31^st March. They are accompanied by an period instrument ensemble with conductor Henk Gijzen.

The concert will also include extracts from a St. John Passion which was originally considered to be an early work of Handel. More recently, the work has been attributed to Bohm. The Brederobe Consort will also perform a composition of conductor and organist Henk Gijzen

Saturday, 31^st March, 16:00

Marekerk, Leiden, the Netherlands

Free entry: a collection may be taken to support the work of the church