Johannes Passion

Johannes Passion

The pealing bells that open Sofia Gubaidulina's St. John Passion immediately announce not only its importance, but also its place firmly in the Russian musical tradition. The work is full of declamatory, hieratic solo passages and rich choral contributions, along with references to Russian Orthodox chants. Gubaidulina's text combines the Passion story with the Last Judgment, using excerpts from the Gospel According to Saint John interspersed with selections from other Books, including Revelations. It's a grim work, brilliantly inventive throughout, with original touches, such as a dialogue between baritone and timpani, and a Day of Wrath featuring menacing percussion and truly terrifying brass yowls and rumblings. Along with these and many other personal visions are echoes of Mussorgsky, as well as the Stravinsky of Les Noces. Gergiev leads a deeply moving performance, intensely dramatic, never flagging in interest or tension, and his soloists are all outstandin g. This must be heard by anyone interested in modern music that's both accessible and challenging. Part of a series of commissioned oratorios on the Passion story for the Bach Year, it's a worthy tribute to the Bach Passions that inspired it. --Dan Davis

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