MasterVoices Presents St. John Passion at Carnegie Hall

MasterVoices (formerly The Collegiate Chorale), celebrating its 75th anniversary during the 2016-2017 season, presents St. John Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach on February 9, 2017 at 7pm at Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall (57th Street and 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10019). The production will be conducted by MasterVoices' Artistic Director Ted Sperling and will feature the MasterVoices chorus, Michael Slattery, Jesse Blumberg, Adam Lau, Latonia Moore, Tamara Mumford, Ben Bliss, and Daniel Okulitch, with New York Baroque Incorporated.

Bach's magnificent choral masterpiece St. John Passion is considered by many to be more dramatic and expressive than his popular St. Matthew Passion. MasterVoices' presentation will feature its 150 voice chorus, an impressive cast of rising stars, and an ensemble of period instruments. To pay tribute to MasterVoices' founder Robert Shaw, who held the belief that the Passions should speak directly to audiences in English, and that these concerts should be communal experiences, the performance will be given in a modern-day English translation written by Michael Slattery (who will also sing the role of the Evangelist). MasterVoices invites all audience members to sing along with the chorales, and will provide ticket buyers with practice materials in advance.

"In looking for a major choral work for MasterVoices to perform as part of its 75th Anniversary Season, I was drawn to the St. John Passion not only because of its vivid storytelling, but also because it has been a personal favorite of mine from the time I was a teenager. I wanted to perform the work in English, as its original audience would have understood every word, and I'd like ours to do the same. I look forward to inviting our audience to learn and join us in singing the chorales, filling Carnegie Hall with music from all directions." - Ted Sperling, Artistic Director

St. John Passion tickets ($20-$130) on sale now at Carnegie Hall (carnegiehall.org | CarnegieCharge 212-247-7800 | Box Office at 57th and Seventh). MasterVoices Members are entitled to pre-sale access and discounts now. For tickets and more information, visit mastervoices.org.

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