Much as folk revere Bach, they regularly ignore the written evidence that survives (often in his own hand). We convened a rehearsal, Monday of Holy Week 2021, and worked through the alternate pieces that survive for the John Passion, with close attention to the instrumentation & forces available to him in his early performances.
It was a wonderful experience for us all - so seldom that working musicians have the time to do that. Shame that we could not invite anybody in to listen!
March 23rd 2022 7.30pm
Bach's St. John Passion at St. James's Church,
Spanish Place W1 with Scott Price & the Schola Cantorum of Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School
If you are looking for a first rate period instrument ensemble, free thinking, and at the cutting edge of baroque performance practise, please email us
April 12th 7pm
Bach's St. John Passion at Westminster Abbey,
with James O'Donnell & the Westminster Abbey Choir.
May 2022 Westminster Abbey
Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610
directed by James O'Donnell with the choir of Westminster Abbey
St James' Baroque
St. James' Baroque was started by Ivor Bolton in 1984. It's one of the leading period instrument ensembles, has appeared at every year of the Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music and also many other festivals - including four visits to the Proms.
Ivor Bolton made several recordings with St. James's Baroque. James O'Donnell took over from Ivor as Music Director in 2005.
St. James' Baroque pays close attention to recent historical research, particularly stringing and the
set up of period instruments (or modern copies of old instruments).
For many years, we have had a wonderful association with Britain's most celebrated choir, the Choir of Westminster Abbey.
St James' Baroque PHOTO: Stephen Boffey
