Tewkesbury choir perform Bach at the abbey (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Tewkesbury choir perform Bach at the abbey

ON Saturday, March 12 the Abbey School Choir, based in Tewkesbury, will give a performance of the St John Passion by J S Bach in the town's historic Abbey.

British tenor Justin Lavender, well known for his appearances at La Scala and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, will sing the Evangelist and the part of Christus will be sung by the Reverend Christopher Chivers, who is the precentor at Westminster Abbey.

Joining them will be Adrian Hutton as Pilate, soprano Natalie Clifton-Griffith, alto Stephen Taylor, tenor Benedict Linton and James Birchall as bass. The Avonbrook Chamber Orchestra will be conducted by Benjamin Nicholas.

Bach's intimate and powerful telling the St John's Passion story is unmatched for dramatic effect, directness of expression or for spiritual depth but the tradition of telling the Passion story in musical form goes back many centuries before Bach.

John Caldwell, professor of music at Oxford University, will be putting the work in its historical context in a pre-concert talk at 6.30pm in Beauchamp House, The Abbey School.

Tickets for the performance which begins at 7.30pm from Tewkesbury Abbey Shop on 01684 276655.