Ex Cathedra
JS Bach: St John Passion
Jeffrey Skidmore (conductor), Sebastian Hill (Evangelist), Thomas Lowen (Jesus), Lawrence White (Pilate), Imogen Russell (soprano), Katie Trethewey (soprano), Martha McLorinan (alto), Daniel Marles (tenor)

Supported by a grant from Continuo Foundation
Dramatic choruses place us at the heart of the story, while poignant solo arias and achingly beautiful orchestration explore the characters' emotional depth – and offer us space to pause and reflect. Three centuries after that first performance, it is a masterpiece that still speaks to us profoundly, regardless of belief.
We get closer still to the Good Friday traditions of Bach’s time with chorale preludes, motets, readings and communal hymns.
Performers:
Sebastian Hill Evangelist
Thomas Lowen Jesus
Lawrence White Pilate
Imogen Russell, Katie Trethewey soprano
Martha McLorinan alto
Daniel Marles tenor
Ex Cathedra Choir & Baroque Orchestra
Jeffrey Skidmore conductor
Sung in German with English surtitles. Running time: 3 hours including a 30-minute interval.
Fri, 3 April 2026
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
2:00pm
£15 - £50
Full Event Details
In 1724, for his first Easter in charge of music in Leipzig, JS Bach presented a new work for the Good Friday liturgy: the St John Passion.
Dramatic choruses place us at the heart of the story, while poignant solo arias and achingly beautiful orchestration explore the characters' emotional depth – and offer us space to pause and reflect. Three centuries after that first performance, it is a masterpiece that still speaks to us profoundly, regardless of belief.
We get closer still to the Good Friday traditions of Bach’s time with chorale preludes, motets, readings and communal hymns.
Performers:
Sebastian Hill Evangelist
Thomas Lowen Jesus
Lawrence White Pilate
Imogen Russell, Katie Trethewey soprano
Martha McLorinan alto
Daniel Marles tenor
Ex Cathedra Choir & Baroque Orchestra
Jeffrey Skidmore conductor
Sung in German with English surtitles. Running time: 3 hours including a 30-minute interval.
Venue Details & Map
Location
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Broad Street Birmingham, B1 2EA
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