Bach: St. John Passion

Saturday, March 14, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Needham Great Hall, Needham

Sunday, March 15, 2026

The Program

Bach: St. John Passion
Noah Horn, Music Director

Bach’s St. John Passion is one of the most profound and emotionally gripping works in Western music. First performed on Good Friday in 1724, this dramatic oratorio sets the story of Christ’s crucifixion from the Gospel of John, blending intimate arias, turbulent choruses, and haunting chorales into a deeply human musical experience.

While the subject is sacred, the emotions are startlingly real—rage, sorrow, tenderness, and hope. From the anguished crowd scenes to the sorrowful beauty of the final chorus, Bach’s St. John Passion invites listeners into a vivid and deeply reflective journey.

What’s Interesting About This Concert

  • Operatic Drama, Sacred Depth: Though written for church, the St. John Passion unfolds like a sacred opera. The Evangelist’s narration moves the story swiftly along, while the chorus shifts roles—becoming the crowd, the soldiers, and the conscience of the piece. It’s intensely dramatic, without ever stepping foot on a stage.

  • A Window Into Bach’s World: Bach composed the St. John Passion during his first year in Leipzig, making it his earliest surviving Passion setting. It’s rawer, more urgent, and more emotionally direct than the later St. Matthew Passion—a glimpse of Bach experimenting boldly with musical storytelling.

  • Music That Still Speaks: Nearly 300 years after its premiere, this music still feels alive. Its mix of choral power and solo intimacy gives space for personal reflection and communal reckoning—making it as resonant today as it was in 1724.

  • Approximately 2 hours. There will be an intermission.

  • Parking in Boston can be hard - but not impossible!

    • Limited on-street parking is available in the immediate area.

    • Atelier 505 Parking Garage (15 Warren Ave)

    • 100 Clarendon Street Garage

    • Back Bay Garage (85 St James Ave)

    • Approx. 10 minute walk from Back Bay on the MBTA Orange Line

    • Approx. 15 minute walk from Copley on the MBTA Green Line

    • Nearby bus lines: 9, 10, 11, 15, 43

  • Wear what makes you feel comfortable!

  • Patrons can access the elevator by going through the Music Center to the right of the Cyclorama entrance. Cyclorama is on Floor 1.