Classical Music Explained: Former Radio 3 Presenter in Chiswick talks about Bach (From Your Local Guardian)

Classical Music Explained: Former Radio 3 Presenter in Chiswick talks about Bach

4:05pm Monday 3rd October 2011 in Your Say

At 8:00pm on Thursday 13th October in the Michael Room, St Michael and All Angels Church, Chiswick, London W4 1TT, conductor and broadcaster Sandy Burnett will be discussing one of the greatest religious works in the repertoire of classical music: Bach's St John Passion. "We think of Bach first and foremost as a supreme musical craftsman," Sandy writes, "but the standout feature of this piece isn't the music - it's the way he puts his astonishing musical skills entirely at the service of the Passion story.

This is a gripping, at times terrifying, narrative - for me the way Bach illuminates the account in John's Gospel of Jesus's betrayal, trial, crucifixion and death is more vivid than any other musical work before or since." This masterpiece will be approached from several different angles - where the Passion tradition came from, how the St John was originally intended to be performed, the way Bach structured the piece, the spiritual qualities of the music and its exceptional dramatic power.

This is the first in a series of Classic Discovery events designed to introduce classical music to intelligent people, and to deepen the knowledge of those who are already cognoscenti. More information at www.classicdiscovery.com. Tickets cost £10 – pay on the door.

Based on information supplied by Sandy Burnett.