On Tuesday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m., the Sociedad de Conciertos La Filarmónica presents in the Auditorio Nacional de Música the Passion according to St. Matthew by Johann Sebastian Bach.
This magnificent and introspective piece of classical music will be performed by the orchestra and choir Collegium Vocale Gent and conducted by Philippe Herreweghe (pictured).
The Collegium Vocale Gent was created by Master Philippe Herreweghe 55 years ago, on his own initiative, with a group of fellow musicians from the University of Ghent in order to interpret Bach’s music from a historical perspective. We were pioneers in approaching this repertoire from this new approach,’ he says. Over the years, it has become a professional group with international projection, conducting up to five hundred auditions annually in order to update and adapt the staff to the needs of each program.
Martin Luther was aware of the importance of music from the beginning of the Reformation, so that “the Word of God may remain alive in hearts through song”. It encouraged the active participation of the faithful in religious service, led to the professionalization of musicians and musical training in schools. Luther’s will was decisive in establishing musical life in Germany and, consequently, that of the whole world.
Johann Sebastian Bach, who was for 25 years the Kantoren of the churches in Leipzig, owes his vocation and formation to this Lutheran tradition. Also known as the “Fifth Evangelist”, he composed more than three hundred sacred cantatas and his brilliant music has become a symbol and reference not only for people of faith but for all those who give space in their lives to spirituality.