Franz Welser-Mӧst Convenes Panel Discussion: 'Is J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion Anti-Semitic?'

From the Cleveland Orchestra,Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage,Case Western Reserve: On Sunday March 5, 2017 at 3:00 p.m., Cleveland Orchestra Music Director Franz Welser-Mӧst convenes a panel of guest speakers at The Temple-Tifereth Israel in Beachwood (26000 Shaker Boulevard, Beachwood, OH) to probe the question “Is Bach’s St. John Passion anti-Semitic?”, a lingering claim that surrounds this seminal work. This extraordinarily moving and achingly beautiful telling of the Crucifixion is perhaps Bach’s most daring, forceful, and poetic composition. The panel will explore the context of European history, music, and religion that influenced the creation of Bach’s masterpiece and the intersections of meaning, message, and intent.

In addition to Welser-Möst, the panel includes Rabbi Roger C. Klein, Associate Rabbi at The Temple-Tifereth Israel, and Michael Marissen, Professor Emeritus of Music at Swarthmore College and author of the newly released book, Bach and God. The conversation will be moderated by David J. Rothenberg, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Music, Case Western Reserve University. The event is free, but tickets are required and may be reserved online at www.maltzmuseum.org or by calling the Maltz Museum at 216-593-0575.

Following the March 5 concert preview panel discussion, Franz Welser-Mӧst will lead The Cleveland Orchestra in performances of Bach’s St. John Passion on March 9, 11 and 12 at Severance Hall.

The March 5 event is presented by The Cleveland Orchestra, in partnership with the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage and Case Western Reserve University, a partnership that originated with the Violins of Hope Cleveland project in the fall of 2015. For more information, visitwww.violinsofhopecle.org.

Concert Preview Information

SPECIAL CONCERT PREVIEW: J.S. BACH’S ST. JOHN PASSION

Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 3:00 p.m.

The Temple-Tifereth Israel, 26000 Shaker Boulevard, Beachwood, Ohio 44122

FREE, registration required. Go to www.maltzmuseum.org or call 216-593-0575.

Featured Panelists:

• Franz Welser-Mӧst – Music Director of The Cleveland Orchestra
• Rabbi Roger C. Klein – Associate Rabbi at The Temple-Tifereth Israel
• Michael Marissen – Professor Emeritus of Music at Swarthmore College
• Moderated by David J. Rothenberg – Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Music – Case Western Reserve University

Presented by The Cleveland Orchestra, Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, and Case Western Reserve University

Concert Information

THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA

Severance Hall

Bach’s St. John Passion

• March 9, 2017 at 7:30PM
• March 11, 2017 at 8:00PM
• March 12, 2017 at 3:00PM

The Cleveland Orchestra

• Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
• Maximilian Schmitt, tenor (Evangelist)
• Andrew Foster-Williams, bass-baritone (Christus)
• Lauren Snouffer, soprano
• Iestyn Davies, countertenor
• Nicholas Phan, tenor
• Michael Sumuel, bass-baritone

Cleveland Orchestra Chorus

Once written, Bach rarely revised his compositions, but the St. John Passion was one of the few works he revised and revived intermittently until the end of his life. The resulting telling of the Crucifixion is extraordinarily moving – achingly beautiful and dramatically powerful, it is perhaps his most daring, forceful, and poetic work.

Concert Tickets for the March 9, 11 and 12 performances of Bach’s St. John Passion at Severance Hall can be purchased online at www.clevelandorchestra.com, or by calling the Ticket Office at 216-231-1111.

Image via Pixabay