The passion tradition, a quintessentially Dutch phenomenon without parallel abroad, is generally celebrated with performances of Bach’s masterworks. While there is the occasional performance of a passion by one of Bach’s contemporaries or predecessors, such as De Rore, Mattheson or Händel, few composers have ventured to tackle the passion story since Bach. A significant exception is Arvo Pärt, who wrote a St John’s Passion of intense simplicity, imbued with an emotional tension and spiritual expressivity that are the composer’s hallmarks.

Artists

ARVO PÄRT 
Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Secundo Joannum

NEDERLANDS KAMERKOOR
ASKO | SCHÖNBERG
conductor
Risto Joost
Christus (baritone)
André Morsch
Pilatus (tenor)
Elmar Gilbertsson
evangelists
Heleen Koele (soprano), Dorien Lievers (alto), Albert van Ommen (tenor), Kees Jan de Koning (bass)