Timeless staging of St John Passion grips at throat

The main character of Bach's St John Passion? Jesus, of course. Wrong. It is the narrator, the evangelist, especially in Dale Duesing's wonderful staging, especially when interpreted by Robert Burt. Where in ordinary performances of the Johannes the evangelist's recitatives mainly interrupt the arias and choral passages, here they form the dramatic core. We truly see John's passion.

This evangelist is not an omniscient narrator; surrounded by documents and books, he writes a history like an archivist, weighing things up. He feverishly strikes out the ancient prophecies and gets more and more carried away by the story he tries to write down as best he can. The commentary comes from the choral choir, placed left and right on the stage.

It is also the evangelist who goes through all human emotions: from amazement to anger, from despair to resignation. He, of all people, is comforted by Mary. Pilate (Vitali Rozynko) is no cold-hearted administrator either, but shows his surprise, irritation and frustration.

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Jesus, who after all already knows the outcome, on the other hand shows almost no emotion. But as serene as God's son is portrayed by Quirijn de Lang, so fickle in character is the stage chorus. It allows itself to be incited all too easily, calling vengefully for Jesus' crucifixion and Barabas' release: 'Nicht diesen, sondern Barrabam!' A scene now involuntarily reminiscent of a hall shouting 'Less! Less! Less!" scanned.

That association cannot have been put there by Duesing, simply because this production was first seen three years ago; but it does show how timeless his vision of Bach's St John Passion is. Duesing does not ignore the religious nature of the work, but stages it in such a way that those who want to see the Passion see it; those who want to see a more universal story of suffering, life and death see it.

It never gets sentimental, but the emotion gradually grips you more and more, culminating in the final chorus and choral, sung at full volume by the impressive Nationaal Opera en Concert Koor (the former choir of the former Nationale Reisopera, now Nederlandse Reisopera). In the orchestra pit, the superbly playing Baroque Acedemy of now the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, but soon *****Orkest, led by the debutant in this capacity, Klaas Stok, who brings a load of experience as a choral conductor, however.

However, all those name changes don't matter - even director Nicolas Mansfield had to correct himself afterwards when he mouthed 'national' out of habit - these Johannes not only deserves this reprise, but is rightly included as a repertory piece by the Reisopera. In three years, therefore, another reprise. We are already looking forward to it.

 

De Nederlandse Reisopera, Baroque Acedemy of the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, National Opera and Concert Choir, soloists conducted by Klaas Stok: J.S. Bach - St John Passion, Wilminktheatre Enschede, 21 March 2014. On tour until 18 April.