Experience Bent Sørensen’s St John Passion
On commission of Oslo Kirkemusikkfestival, Bent Sørensen has written a new St John Passion for a small ensemble, keeping with the festival’s theme ‘Masses and passions in step with the times.’ For the world premiere, the work is performed by five singers from Theatre of Voices and five string players from Ensemble Allegria under the direction of the world-renowned conductor Paul Hillier. Sørensen has previously written the critically acclaimed St Matthew Passion for the festival in 2020.
In his new work, Sørensen interprets the Passion story through contrapuntal adaptations of textual sources from the Gospel of John and parts of the apocryphal texts and gospels, including the Secret Book of John and the gospels of Thomas, Mary, and Philip. In addition, Sørensen incorporates ballad texts related to the Passion story from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. As in the Gospel of John, the work focuses on the figure of Mary Magdalene. St Matthew Passion emphasised the theme word ‘mist’, and as a natural counter-part, St John Passion focuses on ‘light’: where St Matthew Passion ended with steps into the mist, St John Passion starts with the journey out of the mist and into the light. The new passion is what the composer describes as a ‘beautiful and delicate work’.
In line with today’s serial culture, Sørensen presents a work that spans two ‘seasons’. Part one will premiere at this year’s festival, while the audience has to wait in anticipation for the continuation. Part two will premiere at the festival in 2026. Season 1 closes with the crucifixion of Jesus, and season 2 will begin with the resurrection.
Theatre of Voices and Paul Hillier will also perform music by the French Renaissance composer Guillaume Dufay (1397–1474), who is considered to be the most important composer of the early Renaissance. They will perform five motets by Dufay as well as the anonymous Robin and Marion– 13th century motets from the French tradition.
This concert is generously supported by Augustinus Fonden
Photo: Lars Skaaning
PROGRAM
GUILLAUME DUFAY (1397-1474)
Alma redemptoris
ANON. (ca. 1300)
Sancta Mater gracie/Dou way Robin
GUILLAUME DUFAY
Ecclesiae Militantis
ANON. (ca. 1300)
Hyer matin à l’enjournée
GUILLAUME DUFAY
Flos Florum
ANON. (ca. 1300)
Trois Sereus
GUILLAUME DUFAY
Lamentatio
ANON. (ca. 1300)
Clap, Clap/Sus Robin
GUILLAUME DUFAY
Vergene bella
-break-
BENT SØRENSEN (*1958)
St John Passion (1st part), World premiere
THEATRE OF VOICES
-Else Torp
-Kate Macoboy
-Laura Lamph
-Paul Bentley-Angell
-Jakob Skjoldborg
-Jakob Bloch Jespersen
ENSEMBLE ALLEGRIA
Bent Sørensen, composer
Paul Hillier, conductor