St. John Passion: The Divine Ordeal

Presented as part of the Washington Bach Consort's Director's Series, this performance of Bach’s St. John Passion (BWV 245) offers a dramatic musical retelling of the Crucifixion as narrated in the Gospel of John. Composed for Good Friday 1724 and revised through multiple Leipzig versions, the work unfolds in two parts, weaving together Gospel narration, expressive arias, and chorales that would have been familiar to Bach’s original congregation. Tenor Gregório Taniguchi takes the role of the Evangelist, bringing an "emotionally piercing" immediacy to the scenes from John chapters 18 and 19, while the chorus and orchestra animate the crowd scenes and provide reflective commentary. The result is an epic balance of urgency and contemplation that speaks across centuries with surprising clarity.

When: Sunday, March 7, 2027 at 4:00 pm.

Venue: National Presbyterian Church.

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach.

Work: Johannes-Passion, BWV 245.

Director's Series: This concert is part of the Washington Bach Consort's Director's Series, offering a focused exploration of major choral works.

Soloists: Gregório Taniguchi as Evangelist; Enrico Lagasca as Christus; Edmund Milly as Pilate; Amy Nicole Broadbent, soprano; Sylvia Leith, alto; Jacob Perry Jr., tenor.

Tickets: Single ticket pricing is not available. Subscription packages for the 2026–2027 season, which include this concert, are on sale to the general public; subscriptions save up to $120 and include benefits such as no ticketing fees, discounted tickets, priority seating, and ticket exchange. For more information, call the Box Office at 202.429.2121.

Underwriters: This performance is supported by The Honorable & Mrs. John D. Rockefeller IV, Barbara Bankoff & Robert Crandall, Robert & Lynn Downing, and Hope P. McGowan.