Music of the Baroque Holy Week, St. Matthew Passion

Founded in Hyde Park, Illinois 36 years ago, Music of the Baroque presents Johann Sebastian Bach’s Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to St. Matthew. Soloists include Paul Agnew as the Evangelist, Christopheren Nomura as Jesus, Douglas Anderson as Pilate, Steven Huffines as Judas, and members of the Ripieno Chorus and Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus. Jane Glover conducts. Music of the Baroque Holy Week, St. Matthew Passion airs Sunday, April 5 at 1 p.m. on Classical 91.5/90.3/HD 91.5-1.

A musical masterpiece of profound spirituality and one of the supreme creative achievements of all time, Johann Sebastian Bach's St. Matthew Passion speaks as urgently of conscience, compassion and hope today as it did when it was written nearly 300 years ago. This is music drawn on a vast emotional canvas, scored for double orchestra, performed with the power and passion Music of the Baroque always brings to Bach's great choral works.

Sixty of the Chicago area’s finest professional musicians make up the chorus and orchestra of Music of the Baroque. Many have played and sung for years with the ensemble. Most members of the orchestra also perform with other leading groups, including the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera. Chorus members have active operatic, teaching and recital careers and several perform regularly as soloists with Music of the Baroque.