St. Matthew Passion

This year St. Mark's Church, Purley celebrates its centenary. With a strong music tradition, St. Mark's has invited The English Arts Chorale to perform J S Bach's magnificent work St. Matthew Passion as a major contribution to the celebration. This concert will take place the day before Palm Sunday.

The English Arts Chorale brings together a group of first-class soloists led by rising tenor star, Canadian Pascal Charbonneau singing the part of the Evangelist. Pascal has sung many roles on both opera and oratorio in his native Canada as well as throughout Europe and America. Christus is sung by bass-baritone Matthew Hargreaves. The other soloists are Jay Britton (soprano), Tim Garrard (counter-tenor) Paul Smy (tenor) and Jonathan Saunders (bass). The Ripieno Choir will be formed by the junior choir of the Colchester Royal Grammar School. Together with Camerata of London and the commitment of The English Arts Chorale, this promises to be a very special occasion, and a fitting way to move into Holy Week, the most sacred part of the Christian Year.

You can read Leslie Olive's thoughts on this wonderful work here.