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St Matthew Passion history

Since 1948, the Philips Choir has performed Bach’s St Matthew Passion annually. This tradition was started by the conductor at the time: Otto Glastra-van Loon. Initially, the performances only took place in Eindhoven. But under conductor Hein Jordans, the Philips Choir, accompanied by the Brabant Orchestra, spread its wings and Bach’s work was performed in various places in Brabant. The editions in Zaltbommel and Venlo were also provided by the Philips Choir for many years.

In the early years, the musical convention prevailed that the work should be performed at a very slow tempo. In order to limit the total performance time a little, some parts of the piece were skipped (cuts). Listen to the historical recordings on this page. Fortunately, times have changed; nowadays the performances are more lively and therefore more lifelike. That only makes the music more impressive.

Although we perform the work annually (and even several times a year), it never gets boring. Bach’s music remains fascinating! That is actually miraculous, if you think about it. No other composer has the same effect. It is music of eternity.

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1948

That’s how it all started.
The year 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the Philips Choir’s start of the St Matthew Passion tradition in Brabant. Even before the Second World War, the St Matthew Passion was performed in Brabant several times. But the war put a stop to that initiative. Board members of the Philips Choir saw that as an opportunity. When they heard from the pre-war parties that they did not want to pick it up again, they approached Rotterdam-based conductor Otto Glastra van Loon. He saw potential in it and after a full year of study (without other concerts), the choir was ready for the very first performance on March 18, 1948. The interest was overwhelming. So great that the Philips Schouwburg was quickly sold out on both evenings. In order to still be able to meet the extra demand, it was decided to make a ‘line connection’ with the Reformed Church on Fazantlaan, so that the concert could be listened to there simultaneously as a ‘stereophonic reproduction’.

1951

And this is what the versions looked like in the early years. This photo is from 1951. We were accompanied by the Philips Orchestra Association, now Philips Symphony Orchestra. On the podium was Otto Glastra van Loon, the choir conductor at the time.

You can listen to our performance again this year. For more information, see our concert agenda.

1960

We go back to 1960. We are the proud owners of a signed text booklet signed by the conductor and soloists of the Matthäus performance that year. We call conductor Hein Jordans and the soloists Anton Eldering, Gerda Pons, Hein Jordans, John van Kesteren, Aafje Heynis, Leo Rommerts and Naän Pöld.

1965

We ask Marga, soprano with the Philipskoor since 1970: the St. Matthew Passion is known as a tough piece; what do you think?
For the inexperienced listener, this Passion is often a long concert, in that sense I understand that. The very first time I went to listen I was in my twenties. I immediately liked some pieces, but for example the aria “Geduld” seemed to have no end. You always had the feeling that the da capos would not stop! You had to have a lot of patience for that! But now I hear something new with every performance. For example the beautiful flute accompaniment to the soprano aria: “Aus Liebe”. Or the beautiful violin solo to the alto aria “Erbarme dich”. The bassoon and the oboe are given a beautiful role in many parts. Gradually you hear more and more. And now even the aria “Geduld” can no longer last long enough for me.
Listen to this recording of Geduld from 1965 with tenor John van Kesteren.

1971

Back in time, in 75 years that the Philipskoor performs the St. Matthew Passion. This time a recording from 1971 of the beautiful aria Aus Liebe. The favorite aria of one of our members, because of the beautiful accompaniment by flute and oboe d’amore. #EllyAmeling, who recently turned 90, sings it almost tenderly and very loving. Heartwarming!
You can listen to our performance again this year. For more information, see our concert agenda.

1990 till now

St Matthew Passion & Mark van Platen

Mark van Platen has been accompanist of the Philips Choir since 1990 and also plays as a continuo player in the performance of the St Matthew Passion almost every year. He then sits with the chest organ in a central place between the choir and the orchestra. We interview him about the developments in all those years of St Matthew Passion history and ask what this piece means to him personally. Read the interview: www.philipskoor.nl/interview

2015

Back to a more recent performance in our 75-year tradition of the St Matthew performance. In 2015, L1-TV made a documentary about the St Matthew Passion in Venlo. They beautifully captured the Philips choir, Philharmonie Zuidnederland and the audience. Here is a short impression of that documentary.

For more information about the upcoming performance, see our concert agenda.

2017

We ask Marga, soprano with the Philipskoor since 1970: what are your favorite parts of the St. Matthew Passion?
Bach’s music is very accessible and easy on the ear. Even if you don’t immediately like everything when you first get to know it, there is still enough left that will be appealing due to the great variety in the parts. Each part has a different character, sometimes performed by a choir with orchestra, then again with the evangelist telling parts of the Passion story or the soloists with beautiful arias. The choir sometimes plays the role of the audience, with shouts and cries coming from all sides. For example in “Ja, nicht auf das Fest” and “Lass ihn kreuzigen”. This gives the impression of a shouting crowd. The arias are often contemplative and are about love or remorse. Beautifully moving. And then the musical effects, such as in “Sind Blitze, sind Donner”, you can hear the thunder and rage.
Attached is a recording from the audience of some of the chants (2017)

2019

We ask Marga, soprano with the Philips choir since 1970: how does the choir prepare?
Rehearsals start in January, a wonderful moment every year. Because we already know the notes, all the rehearsal time is spent on finishing. That is always very interesting and educational: for example, the conductor has us stand mixed up, which means that you are very much on your own when it comes to notes and you can hear exactly where you still have some homework to do. It is also very nice to colour your voice after that of your neighbour. When the conductor has the choir sing without, for example, the soprano or alto part, you can clearly hear how beautifully Bach has set everything to music. Even if the melody line of the soprano part disappears, it still sounds very complete and beautiful. Just before the performances, the piano and orchestra rehearsals start with the conductor who will lead the concert. This is often not our own choir conductor. Interpretations are suddenly different from what you were used to; you do become flexible in that over the years. At the dress rehearsal everything falls into place and then there are several performances of this beautiful work, spread over various locations in Brabant. When the last final chord has sounded, you are satisfied with the usually good course of the performances, but at the same time a little sad because it will be a year before you can work on this musical highlight again.
Listen to a piece from the final chorus, a recording made by one of the soloists during the dress rehearsal.

2022

From the St. Matthew Passion: the aria Erbarme Dich. Always at number 1 in the Classical Top 400 and not without reason. What a beautiful aria this is! This is the 2022 performance by Tobias Segura Peralta, countertenor and Jan Busschers, violin. On the left you can hear the full recording.

For more information see our concert agenda.

2023

In 75 years we have sung the St. Matthew under the direction of 26 different conductors. These often involved guest conductors from the Brabant Orchestra / Philharmonie Zuidnederland. The conductor with by far the most performances to his name (67) was Hein Jordans, who was responsible for 25 years.
We were accompanied by 7 different orchestras in all those years: Philips Orkest Vereniging (now Philips Symphony Orchestra), Limburg Symphony Orchestra, Het Brabants Orkest, Philharmonie Zuidnederland, National Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège and Kamerorkest Alveare.
In total, we have performed the Matthäus no less than 188 times up to and including 2023, so in 75 years. The busiest Matthäus year was 2017; then we sang 5 in eight days.
Does it make you dizzy? It makes us dizzy too sometimes, when we think about it. In the end, only the beautiful music counts, so forget all those numbers quickly.
You can listen to our performance again this year. Are you coming? Tickets: mge.nl/agenda/bachs-matthaus-passion-2