Gewandhaus Orchestra, Thomanerchor to perform in Seoul

The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra will perform Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion” in Seoul on March 26 with the Thomanerchor. / Courtesy of Vincero

By Yun Suh-young

The legendary boys' choir from Leipzig, Germany, Thomanerchor (St. Thomas Choir of Leipzig), will be performing one of the masterpieces of classical sacred music "St. Matthew Passion" in Seoul Wednesday, ahead of Easter which falls on March 27 this year.

The Thomanerchor, on their fourth visit, will be performing with another world-famous group, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. The two groups have been in close collaboration since the inception of the orchestra in 1781, which came 500 years after the choir’s 1212 establishment. The two's collaborative performance of “St. Matthew Passion” has been recognized as the best rendition ever of the difficult song.

Before the Wednesday performance, the choir and orchestra will perform in Daegu on Tuesday at the Daegu Concert House. Their fourth visit to Korea this year follows previous visits every four years, in 2004, 2008 and 2012. This year’s performance is unique in that it is the first overseas concert for the choir under the helm of their new director.

Thomanerchor, a boys’ choir based in Leipzig, Germany / Courtesy of Vincero

Gotthold Schwarz was appointed as the Thomanerchor's 17th Thomaskantor, or director of the choir, in 2015, succeeding Georg Christoph Biller who was the 16th Thomaskantor, serving from 1992 to 2015 and directing the previous three concerts in Korea. Schwarz has been with the choir for the last 30 years as a vocal coach and soloist as well as conductor. He is known to have a deep understanding of Johann Sebastian Bach's music.

The Thomanerchor usually performs Bach's music which comprises chants from different eras, ranging from Renaissance to contemporary. The choir is recognized for playing an important role in introducing the eastern German city to the musical world.

The song “St. Matthew Passion” which will be performed on Wednesday is written by Bach who also served as Thomaskantor of the boys' choir from 1723 to 1750. The succeeding cantors, or music directors in church, are counted since Bach.

The sacred oratorio was written in 1727 originally for two choirs and two orchestras. It translated into music chapters 26 and 27 of the Gospel of Matthew, describing the crucifixion of Jesus. The three-hour piece is considered Bach's masterpiece, as it does not develop the story in simple narration but rather condenses the sadness in a sophisticated manner.

Bach introduced most of his church music compositions such as cantata and motet through the St. Thomas Choir, including “St. Matthew Passion.” The piece had not been performed following Bach's death until a century later when Felix Mendelssohn, conductor of the Gewandhausorchester who held the post until his death, revived it in 1829.