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Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) Festival Chorus is performing the 300-year-old choral masterpiece, St. John Passion, this weekend in Winnipeg.
The retelling of the Passion story, written by J.S. Bach, weaves the Easter story using choir, orchestra, and soloists.
"J.S. Bach first wrote it [St. John Passion] in 1724," says Janet Brenneman, conductor of the CMU Festival Chorus. "It was after a three-year cycle of writing cantatas for the church. This was nearing the end of that. The iteration we're doing is the one historians think would have been his final version of it in 1749."
While the entire performance is sung in German, Brenneman shares that audiences will understand the pain and passion of the crucifixion story regardless of whether or not they speak it.
"This is a celebration of a rich history that CMU and the Mennonite tradition have for choral music," says Sandy Koop Harder, CMU's Vice President External. "There's something so special about being able to come together with other people, in music, and also take on something that is this challenging."
This concert features 48 choir members, 15 orchestral players, and five soloists, including alumni and Classic 107 morning show host Nolan Kehler.
The concert takes place Apr. 19 at 7 p.m. at Westworth United Church in River Heights, Winnipeg. Tickets can be purchased at www.winnipegbaroquefestival.com.