On Saturday 21st March at 7.30pm in the magical setting of Boxgrove Priory, Chantry Quire is presenting a performance of J S Bach’s timeless St John Passion on Saturday 21st March 2026.
This great work is a musical setting of the story leading to Christ’s crucifixion according to the account in St John’s gospel. Whilst not being a theatrical work, it is nonetheless highly dramatic, moving swiftly through its recitatives and choruses, and occasionally stopping to reflect on the narrative through chorales and arias.
The piece requires six professional soloists (the Evangelist, Christus and Pilate, plus the arias) and a number more soloists from the choir. The choir mostly forms the dramatic role of the crowd, often whipped up to a frenzy, baying for retribution. The orchestra consists of strings and continuo with the added colour of flutes and oboes, including specialist baroque instruments such as oboe d’amore, oboe da caccia, viola d’amore and viola da gamba.
The Chantry Quire has gained a very special reputation for its pre-Easter concerts at Boxgrove, attracting large audiences, with a memorable (and packed) performance of Monteverdi’s Vespers in their 25th anniversary year in 2025. This performance of the St John Passion promises to be another very special occasion.
Tickets £20 from the Chantry Quire website or on the door.
